It’s heating up out there, and not just because it’s July. The Salesforce landscape is changing fast, and the skills that admins, consultants, and architects need to thrive are evolving right alongside it.
So, whether you’re poolside planning your next Trailhead badge or deep in org cleanup mode before the next release hits, these are the top seven skills you’ll want to sharpen this summer.
1. Communication
Yes, you read that right. Communication has taken the top spot – even above technical skills – as the most important skill for Salesforce Architects, and it’s just as critical for admins. Whether you’re translating requirements into user stories, collaborating with developers, or presenting roadmaps to leadership, your ability to clearly articulate ideas can make or break a project.
Tip: Practice storytelling with data. The better you can explain what Salesforce is doing and why, the more strategic your role becomes.
2. Automation
Automation remains a strong suit for many admins, with over 31% of respondents in our SF Ben Salesforce Administrator Survey Results 2025 ranking it as one of their top skills. That’s no surprise given how central flows have become across the platform. But this is no time to get comfortable – Flow Builder is evolving rapidly with every release, and deepening your automation expertise is what will set great admins apart from the rest.
Tip: If you haven’t already explored subflows, reactive screen components, or Flow testing, now’s the time.
3. Salesforce Architecture
You don’t need to be a CTA to start thinking like an architect. In fact, 43.4% of admins say they feel confident in Salesforce architecture. Understanding how the pieces fit together – data model, security, automation, and integration – makes you a better admin and a more credible voice in technical discussions.
Tip: Learn how to build and read architecture diagrams. It’s the second most important skill for aspiring architects after communication.
4. Problem Solving
Ranked as the most confident skill from the Salesforce Admin Skills Kit by our survey respondents, problem-solving is your daily superpower. Whether you’re troubleshooting a Flow error, investigating a record or field visibility issue, or figuring out why a formula won’t save, your ability to find creative, scalable solutions will always be in demand.
Tip: Start documenting your thought process. It’s a great way to train junior admins and show stakeholders the complexity behind “just fixing it.”
5. Analytics
This one might surprise you. While only 24.3% of all admins say analytics is a top strength, among entry-level admins, it’s actually their most confident area at 41.5%. That’s a trend worth watching. In a world that runs on dashboards and KPIs, data storytelling is quickly becoming a must-have skill.
Tip: Go beyond standard reports. Learn how to use joined reports, cross filters, and custom report types to deliver real insights.
6. Low-Code Capabilities
As architects ranked this just behind communication and diagramming, it’s clear that knowing how to build solutions declaratively is a top skill for admins, consultants, and architects (and dare we say, developers too?). Whether you’re using Flow, App Builder, or Dynamic Forms, low-code is a bridge between strategy and execution.
Tip: Treat low-code the same way you treat Apex – with testing, documentation, and thoughtful design. The impact is just as big.
7. Security Management
Security management came in as the area where admins felt the least confident. In our SF Ben Admin Survey 2025, only 43.8% of respondents felt secure in their security skills, making it the lowest-rated skill in the Salesforce Admin Skills Kit. That’s a concern, especially as regulatory demands grow and AI adoption accelerates. Understanding profiles, permission sets, and sharing rules is just the foundation – and now more than ever, it’s essential to build on it.
Tip: Get familiar with the Shared Responsibility Model and make sure your org has a backup and archiving strategy. If you don’t, it’s time to raise it.
Summary
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take heart. You don’t need to master everything at once. Instead, focus on one or two areas that align with your career goals and start building from there.
Want to become an architect? Sharpen your communication and diagramming. Want to level up as an admin? Dive into automation and analytics. Whatever your path, the Salesforce ecosystem has never offered more opportunity for growth.
This summer, invest in yourself. The skills you grow today will shape the roles you land tomorrow.
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