Engineering Management Institute

UPCOMING TRAINING

Accepting Responsibility Is the Precursor to Closing the Deal

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This is a guest post by Nader Mowlaee

ResponsibilityWhether you close business deals daily or consider a completed deal to be a new job offer that will catapult your career forward, you must first accept full responsibility for what will happen after signing the agreement. Taking responsibility is required for progressing in your work, business, life, or relationships. It is just the right thing to do, and it is a precursor to overcoming or altogether avoiding negative consequences.

Engineering Leaders Take Responsibility for Their Actions

Great engineers take responsibility for their actions and their thoughts because, ultimately, those thoughts turn into action and insights that enable business stakeholders to make decisions. I have seen time and again how engineering leaders take responsibility for their actions. Sometimes they win and get recognized for their efforts, and more often, they fail and get scolded; some even face criminal and obstruction charges. What makes someone a well-rounded engineer heavily relies on how many lessons they have learned from their failures and their career wins.

Responsibility

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TGEP 29: From Design Engineer to Geotechnical Engineering Manager

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Geotechnical Engineering ManagerIn this episode, we talk to David Harmanos, PE, Geotechnical Engineering Manager at Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc., about transitioning from design engineer to managing a group of people.

Engineering Quotes:

Geotechnical Engineering Manager

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask David Harmanos, PE:

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TCEP 180: From Employee to Owner of a Civil Engineering Company (In Just 60 Days)

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Civil Engineering CompanyIn this episode, the eighth episode in our Civil Engineering Entrepreneurs Series, I talk to Kevin Riggs, P.E., President & CEO at Cole Design Group, Inc. about growing a civil engineering company and developing your team. He also shares a very interesting story of how he went from an employee to owner of a large firm in just 60 days.

Engineering Quotes:

Civil Engineering Company

Civil Engineering Company

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Kevin:

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Should My LinkedIn Profile and My Resume Have a Motherhood Section?

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This is a guest blog by author Rae Taylor, one of EMI’s Civil Engineering Collective Content Contributors

LinkedIn Profile

It’s always been known that having kids can be detrimental to a woman’s career. There is more research that can be cited here that women pay a price for having a family, whether it be reduced promotional prospects or a complete loss of career.

Maybe this is why I’ve always been told not to talk about having or wanting kids. I’ve even been advised to not mention being married and of childbearing age. One charming man once told me he wasn’t going to teach me anything because I would get myself pregnant and then have to leave, so what was the point? Side note here: I taught him Excel, Word, and some other software, but I guess being months from retirement, which he talked about constantly, he wasn’t going to go get himself pregnant, so I was safe in the knowledge that my efforts wouldn’t be wasted.

In the interest of never talking about having kids, let’s talk about motherhood instead, and if that should be on resumes. I haven’t been thinking about this at all while applying for jobs. I’ve been thinking about selling myself in the best possible light to all possible employers. But then the BBC asked me if motherhood belongs on a resume. I said “Yes, it does!’’ But I said it in the way you do when what you mean it, “Someone else should do that and break that glass ceiling for all the mothers out there, but not me, because I actually want a job.”

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TSEC 56: From Engineer to Successful Business Owner

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Business OwnerIn this episode, we talk to Peter Vanderzee, President and CEO at LifeSpan Technologies, about his career journey and experience transitioning from electronics to chemical to environmental to geotechnical and then finally to structural engineering. He also shares some great strategies and tips for the startup engineering business owner.

Engineering Quotes:

Business Owner

Business Owner

Business Owner

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Peter:

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Avoid Conflict by Focusing on These 3 Areas

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This is a guest blog by Pamela A. Scott

Avoid Conflict

“This is what I NEED them to do,” a client said during our call recently. I had to squash the groan that was trying to escape my mouth.

The words and the tone of voice this client used were enough to ensure that “they” were not at all likely to do what she wanted them to do. “They” were her peers. She was asserting authority that she didn’t have.

Here are steps you can take to have successful conversations that don’t turn into unnecessary conflict.

Look At the Words You Use

“I need,” “I want,” and “you should” are good ways to send a conversation downhill before you’ve really gotten started.

When you use those expressions, you come across as a dictator. The persons you’re talking at — not with — can feel belittled, bullied, run over, and more. They’ll possibly end up thinking you’re a jerk.

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TGEP 28: How to Take Advantage of Opportunities in Your Career (For Engineering Professionals)

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opportunitiesIn this episode, I talk to Luke Turko, P.E., the Director of Geotechnical Services for Navarro & Wright Consulting Engineers, Inc (also known as N&W), about how you can make the most out of opportunities that present themselves to you in your engineering career.

Engineering Quotes:

opportunities

opportunities

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Luke:

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TCEP 179: Harnessing Teamwork, Communications, and Collaboration (to Make Civil Engineering Projects Successful)

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harnessing teamworkIn this episode, which is part of our Women in Civil Engineering series, I talk to Hannah Albertus-Benham, a Senior Water Resources and Environmental Engineer at Wood, about the challenges of working in a highly scientific project with real impacts on a community, as well as harnessing teamwork, communications, and collaboration to be successful.

Engineering Quotes:

harnessing teamwork

harnessing teamwork

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Hannah:

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Is Conflict Always Bad? The Answer May Surprise You

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This is a blog by Jeff Perry, MBA

conflictMost of us, when we think about conflict, consider it a bad thing we should avoid. That’s not exactly true.

The right kind of conflict can actually build trust and increase performance in teams! In fact, I would say that one of the best indicators of a team that trusts each other is the amount of conflict in the team.

Positive, healthy conflict happens when we can challenge each other in real ways, be open and honest, and collaborate more effectively.

conflict

Disagreements Are Normal and Should Be Encouraged

There is no situation or team that is going to sail through all projects and tasks without ever disagreeing with each other. Yet one of the things that can build divisions and trouble in a teams faster than anything is when people don’t feel heard and able to express disagreements, especially with leaders.

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TSEC 55: Tilt-up Construction and Tornado Storm Shelter Design

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tilt-up ConstructionIn this episode, we talk to Mark Kaiser, S.E., a senior associate at RLG Consulting Engineers, about tilt-up construction and shelter designs. He elaborates on the difference between tilt-up and precast and also talks about what he thinks the future holds for shelter design.

Engineering Quotes:

tilt-up Construction

tilt-up Construction

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Mark:

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