I find that communication is an underrated skill among software engineers

The problem, which is sometimes too common, is if they have too good communication skills combined with lacking technical skills. These are the ones that BS their way up the ladder, while screwing over the people that count on them, because their code sucks (the actual important part, for a SW engineer).

But yeah if you're both good technically and a communicator, you're pretty damn valuable. Personally, I'd be willing to muscle through terrible comm skills if the technical talent that matters was there.