Plumbers are some of the most in-demand experts in the world. Everyone eventually needs help with their drainage systems and indoor piping. Although you’ll need to know how to use more complicated tools than a pipe wrench, your career won’t last long if you don’t develop some soft skills, too.

Learn more about the soft skills plumbers need to master to propel their careers while doing what they love.

1. Active Listening

Anyone can listen to someone describe how their water heater isn’t working. Active listening is how you pick up on cues that point toward the problem and its solution. Experts estimate that people are distracted or preoccupied with other thoughts 75% of the time while talking with someone else. Giving into those instincts could make you miss key information that leads to faster solutions.

Try building your active listening skills by noticing which distracting thoughts pass your mind while you listen to a co-worker. Are they anxious thoughts about something outside of your job? If you pinpoint what’s causing the distractions, you’ll get better at being present in conversations and identifying when you’re passively listening in real time.

2. Honest Communication

People often call for plumbing assistance when emotions are high. They might feel panicked about their clogged kitchen drain or anxious about how their dripping faucet will affect their water bill. You might think that the best way to help is to appear in control, but honest communication is more important.

Talking customers through exactly how you’ll fix the issue will calm them down. If they feel seen and included, you’ll always be the plumber they trust with their home or business.

3. Open Vulnerability

Emotional vulnerability is also a soft skill that plumbers need to master. People can get angry when their emotional tension collides with cold professionalism. Showing a bit of your own emotion reduces the chance of that happening.

If you walk into a business with a flooded bathroom due to a burst pipe, let them know that their plumbing issue concerns you as much as it concerns them. You’ll connect with them more personally, which means they’re in good hands. Follow your comment by walking them through how you’ll fix the problem. They’ll recognize you as someone who has their back rather than someone who’s there just to earn a paycheck.

4. Problem-Solving

Problem-solving is a skill everyone develops over time. Keep an open mind to defining problems and finding solutions in creative ways. You’ll get better at it with each customer you help.

A customer might call to request a quote for water pooling underneath their main water supply. If you’re practicing sharp problem-solving skills, you’d know that their sprinkler system connects to that supply line. You’d know to follow your inspection by checking the yard for sinkholes around potentially broken pipes the customer didn’t realize existed.

You’ll prevent further problems for each customer by thinking of the bigger picture. It will always lead to the most effective solution for any issue.

5. Teamwork

Experienced plumbers may choose to work on some customer calls by themselves. Most of the time, you’ll visit sites with at least one other team member. Focus on improving your teamwork skills as your career progresses. Speak respectfully, delegate whenever possible and always communicate what you’re doing or plan to do. Active listening will also help you develop this soft skill since they’re a package deal.

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6. Time Management

Timeliness is key to a successful plumbing career. You’ll need to become an expert at scheduling customer appointments, incorporating drive times and using your time effectively while you’re on a site.

You can become better at this soft skill by using the priority matrix until it becomes instinctive. Measure responsibilities by how urgent and important they are. You’ll never waste time on low-priority tasks while urgent solutions are necessary somewhere else. It could make the difference between a happy customer and someone who cancels their service due to prolonged wait times.

7. Attention to Detail

Mastering the art of paying attention to fine details is hard work. If you often miss tiny details in customer communications, this could be a great place to start your professional training.

Think about why you might rush through conversations, emails or plumbing solutions. Are you anxious about something? Is your mind already on your next responsibility? Consciously slowing yourself down with deep breathing techniques might help. You could also read something out loud to process it more effectively. As you practice paying better attention to detail, it will become a natural soft skill that sets you apart from everyone else in your field.

8. Self-Confidence

When people need help, they want to call on someone who’s confident in their abilities. Your team members also need a confident partner they can trust. It’s not easy to build your confidence if you’ve lived with low self-esteem, but it’s always possible to achieve.

Jump into training opportunities that challenge you to become better at your plumbing skills. Repeat positive affirmations and pat yourself on the back when you accomplish something. You could also find a mentor with the confidence you aspire to have. If you work on this over time, you’ll develop enough confidence to make you a leader among your co-workers and customers.

9. Conflict Resolution

Plumbing emergencies come with high emotional stakes for many customers. It can heighten the tension in conversations with them and even make your team members more on edge. Learning conflict resolution skills will help in any professional setting, but it’s especially important for plumbers.

Conflict resolution requires actively listening to both parties involved in a conflict. Try forming empathy for both sides to understand their needs before creating a compromise. Sometimes, that will involve looking for nonverbal communication, like if someone’s crossing their arms or scowling while listening to the other person. You’ll emerge as a leader among your team if you can resolve conflicts without losing your cool, too.

10. Critical Thinking

Critical thinking involves three primary components, but the most important is curiosity. Keep an open mind as you encounter challenges on the job. Collect the evidence of a problem, reflect on potential solutions that worked on similar calls and ask questions whenever you need clarification. You’ll arrive at solutions for everything from burst pipes to arguments between co-workers if you use reasoning, evidence and curiosity to work through challenges.

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Improve Your Soft Skills for Your Plumbing Career

Becoming a great plumber requires more than a trade school or apprenticeship certification. You also need soft skills you’ll develop throughout your years on the job. Keep an open mind to refining skills like active listening, time management and self-confidence. You’ll have more enjoyable times with your co-workers and assist customers better when they need your help.

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