This is a guest post by Tiffani Teachey
Many engineers are incredibly smart, skilled people who can figure out how things work and fix them when they break down. A well-spoken engineer can sell their products or services like nobody’s business. It doesn’t matter if they are pitching an idea or defending the work they’ve done on behalf of their company in front of clients and investors. Unfortunately, not all engineers know how to sell themselves or their ideas well enough for them to succeed in business today. I want to help change that with these three essential sales skills engineers should have if they want their product/idea/service bought by consumers today and to become proficient at selling.
1. Communication
Engineers are often overcome with jargon that no one really understands when speaking to potential customers or investors. It can be difficult for them to make themselves understood, and this language mainly occurs as a result of using technical terms unfamiliar outside one’s professional circle. Effective communication means never having any problems getting your point across effectively, without making enemies along the way. Competent engineers know that success also comes from being a skilled salesman too!
2. Marketing
The most important thing in marketing a product is to make sure that it has all the qualities needed for buyers. You can’t just put anything out there and expect people will buy from you — they need reasonability about their purchase decision before making any purchases, which means having high-quality materials or services as well as being able to stand out among competitors. As an engineer myself, I know how important quality control aspects are, and quality control becomes even more vital when trying to win new clients through innovative designs unlike anyone else around.
3. Confidence
People have a tendency to believe what they see more than what they hear from someone who isn’t confident enough in his/her abilities. Confidence is key to becoming an effective engineer. It’s important that you believe in your abilities and don’t second-guess yourself when designing or fixing anything, for both the safety of those around you as well as yourself! Confidence is a powerful thing. Engineers often have an innate talent for confidence, and it can be beneficial in both personal and professional settings to project this positive vibe when interacting with others and for promoting their product/idea/service.
In order for an engineer’s idea to be successful, they have to know how best to communicate their message as well as maintain a confident attitude about their work, which will then translate into sales success! These three skills will give them the confidence to sell anything and everything that comes their way! Some engineers may not be confident about selling themselves or their product, but these three essential skills should provide you with plenty of talent for just about any situation. If you’re interested in learning more about how to become a top-notch seller as an engineer, get in touch today!
About the Author
Tiffani Teachey is a Sr. Mechanical Engineer, STEM advocate, professional speaker, and international best-selling author of the children’s book “What Can I Be? STEM Careers from A to Z” and two women empowerment books. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, as well as a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management, both from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. As an engineer with more than 16 years of experience, Tiffani has a passion for inspiring the next generation to engage in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers. She was born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and enjoys traveling and being a youth mentor. For more about Tiffani, visit her website at www.TiffaniTeachey.com.
We would love to hear any questions you might have or stories you might share about skills that have helped you to become proficient at selling.
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To your success,
Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success
