[mrcoder111]

This is really incorrect advice in the world of software engineering. At least in FAANG companies and big name startups, no one cares if you read How to Win Friends and Influence people and have "social skills". If you can't pass the engineering interviews, you're fucked.

[yters]

Where I work, leadership and people skills are severely lacking amongst programmers, so just a modicum of both makes one stand out pretty easily.

[gpapilion]

This is only true to a point. You have to be in the better half of the technical skill set, but in the higher levels of technical roles leadership skills are stressed more than technical skills.

Senior and staff roles stress proposing/completing large projects and working with others to get it done. Its hard to move to these levels without the skills that enable you to work with others.