Engineering Management Institute

Communication/Public Speaking

5 Strategies for Engineers to Enhance Their Communication Skills

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This is a guest post by Tiffani Teachey

Communication Skills

“Great communication begins with a connection.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

As engineers, we are constantly faced with the challenge of communicating complex technical information to a variety of audiences. Whether we are working with colleagues, clients, or stakeholders, it is important that we are able to clearly and concisely convey our ideas and explanations. Effective communication is essential for the success of any engineering project, as it allows us to collaborate effectively with others and ensure that our message is understood. In this blog, we will explore five key strategies that engineers can use to improve their communication skills and enhance their ability to effectively convey technical information. From practicing active listening to using visual aids, these strategies will help you effectively communicate your ideas and collaborate with others to solve complex problems

Communication Skills

Here Are a Five Key Strategies That Engineers Can Use to Improve Their Communication Skills:

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Breaking Through Common Communication Barriers

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This is a guest blog by Gina Covarrubias

Communication BarriersThis article highlights three common communication barriers that might be holding you back. Learn what you can do to break through these barriers and form newfound connections through improved communication!

1. “I’m Afraid to Speak Up”

The work environment can be intimidating, rampant with older, more experienced folks who seem to know what they’re doing.

For those of you afraid to speak your mind or openly make suggestions, consider the following.

Speaking up is not always about being right. Sometimes it can be, but other times, speaking up can be about expressing ideas or unique thoughts that are worthy of being shared in the name of creating an open dialogue.

Communication Barriers

Your ideas and beliefs deserve consideration as a valued member of an organization. In fact, you get paid to share your ideas and perspectives. While silence may feel less risky and more comfortable, you could fail ahead of time by remaining speechless.

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Great Managers Communicate Differently With Different People by Doing This

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communicate

“To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.” ~ Tony Robbins

I pulled the quote above because I am reading a book entitled “Principles: Life and Work” by Ray Dalio that has made me consider this topic in our coaching and training work. Dalio is an American billionaire investor, hedge fund manager, and philanthropist. One of the biggest takeaways for me from the book is Dalio’s thoughts on how his firm successfully uses an array of assessments to ensure that they have the right people in the right seats, and that they are communicating effectively.

Dalio suggests that every individual is wired differently, and if we don’t try to understand each of our employees’ strengths, tendencies, and thought patterns, how do we know if we are putting them in a position to succeed or fail?

What if we took the time to gather some data that would help our employees work much more productively together? Isn’t that what engineers do? Use data to improve systems? Isn’t your company one big machine? Yes, it’s made up of talented individuals, but the machine needs to operate efficiently as a whole.

Here Are a Few Examples of What an Assessment Might Tell You:

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Communicating Process Is a Powerful Differentiator

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This is a guest post by Gabe Lett, FSMPS, CPSM, LPC

Communicating ProcessI wonder where Sue is in completing that draft? Does Frank know his quality check is due this afternoon? Does Lynn remember our grant application is due this Friday? If others are having to ask these questions about your responsibilities, you are not communicating process.

Communicating process is about letting others know where you are in the process of delivering requested information or in completing a task. Most never think about communicating process because they do not see the value in it. Yet, when you communicate the process, it lets others know that you are working on what they need and whether you are on target or running behind. This is true for both external clients and internal colleagues.

communicating process

What Makes Communicating Process a Differentiator?

Because most people do not think to communicate process, when someone does and makes a habit of it, it sets them apart. Think about colleagues in your professional role who are good at letting you know where they are in their process. Put yourself in the client’s shoes. How would you feel as a client if the consultant you hired kept you informed of their process? You would feel important and well-informed. You would feel that there was a partnership in the completion of your project.

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Your Ears Are Your Strongest Resolution and Negotiation Weapons

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This is a guest post by Gabe Lett, FSMPS, CPSM, LPC
Ears

Most content that centers around communication and conflict resolution has to do with assessing your feelings, your body language, your decision-making process, your attitudes, and your behaviors. Not that these are bad recommendations, but they fall short of what makes the biggest impact when resolving conflict and negotiating. Where most advice falls short is that the advice focuses on YOU, YOUR feelings, YOUR body language, YOUR decision-making, YOUR attitude, and YOUR behaviors.

Many of you have heard the saying, “God gave you one mouth and two ears. He intended for you to listen twice as much as you speak.” Ears are the gateways to receiving critical information about your environment. Ears collect sound waves. During conflict or negotiation, ears are data gathering reservoirs collecting what is coming out of the other person’s mouth. Ears are your strongest weapons in resolving conflict and negotiating a solution.

Ears

To be fair, your ears are only the front-end of a process that leads to great conflict resolution and negotiation. But if you cannot get the front-end of that process right, nothing else in that process will work. Therefore, ears are where you begin.

When you focus on opening your ears, closing your mouth, and focusing on the other person, several key dynamics are put in motion:

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Three Steps to Make the Most of Your Decisions

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This is a guest blog by Gina Covarrubias

DecisionsWhen it comes to decision-time, do you go all in, or do you spend time waffling and floundering? Learn what you can do to make the most of any decision you make!

1. Commitment vs. Giving Up

Sadly, we sit all too often in a state of doubt, self-defeat, or regret after making a decision. It is so tempting to think, “Oh no, was that the right decision? What if I made the wrong choice, etc.?” The agonies that come along with a what-if mentality can leave your self-esteem lacking and your energy depleted. 

I’d like to offer a more useful three-step approach you can apply when it comes to your decision-making skills. 

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Great Managers Ask Powerful Questions

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This is a guest blog by Pamela A. Scott

Good QuestionsJoin me as we discuss a group of managers whose task was to share information with staff on how a company decision was made. Their conversation had gone around in circles.

Then one brave soul spoke up. “Do you think it’s likely that we can develop any sort of communication plan by continuing to pool our ignorance about how this decision was made?”

Chris Clarke-Epstein shares that story in her book “78 Important Questions Every Leaders Should Ask and Answer.”

What a great question! I particularly like “continuing to pool our ignorance. . .”

If only all questions were so wonderfully worded.

This blog focuses on asking good questions, a subject near and dear to my heart. And a challenge to just about every one of us. The blog also provides links to good questions already written for you to ask.

Your Prerequisite for This Blog

Before you dig in on how to ask questions, develop your curiosity. Curiosity is the basis for all questions. Young children torture us with their questions of “Why, Mommy?” “Why does it hurt when I fall off my bike, Daddy?” “Why is she looking at me like that?”

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3 Tips for Selling Yourself So You Can Sell Anything Well

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This is a guest post by Nader Mowlaee

Some people are great at speaking about themselves. They’re the ones that have a story to tell about every situation. They’re comfortable going from one topic to another effortlessly, and they seem to know somebody wherever they go. They’re smooth talkers, and somehow, they seem to have an endless amount of charisma and an extensive network of friends. Engineers often are not among this group.

I know you don’t want to hear this, but you might need to become a little more like those who are comfortable and confident talking about who they are and what value they have to offer. It is where you’ve got to put your selfish ego aside and lean forward to learn about selling yourself. Don’t worry. I am not suggesting you become someone you’re not, though in many cases, such as during a job interview, you need to learn how to effectively present yourself so that you can convince an employer to invest in you and your capabilities. Here are some soft skills to know when selling yourself:

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The (Not-So) Secret to Successful Client Management

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This is a guest post by Lindsay A. O’Leary, P.E., CAE, LEED AP, M.ASCE

Stellar Client ServiceA consultant’s priority is to provide a service in exchange for payment. It may be advice or developing and executing a plan. In civil engineering, our industry’s charge is to build a better quality of life for all of civilization, doing so both ethically and sustainably. Each completed project brings us closer to that goal. Each time a client hires us, we have an opportunity to make a difference. Clean drinking water. A reliable route to emergency medical care. Structures that withstand flooding or safely sway during an earthquake. Our jobs are rewarding. And happy clients are critical to our success. 

So, what’s the not-so-secret key to providing stellar client service? COMMUNICATION! But it’s not always easy and, frankly, it can be downright intimidating at times. 

Here Are Four Communication Checkpoints for Stellar Client Service to Start Implementing Today:

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How to Write Emails That Get the Job Done

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This is a guest blog by Pamela A. Scott

write emailsWhat if you could write really good emails? Would it boost your career?

I’m sure it would because being able to write really good emails would make you stand out from the crowd. Most people write emails that are average or below average.

How do you know if your emails are above average, or even really good? Here’s my formula for writing emails that set you apart from the others and endear you to your boss.

Your reader can:

  • Read and understand your email the first time through
  • Find your main point quickly
  • See whether or not he/she needs to take action now, then do so
  • Find the details needed to understand your message and act accordingly
  • Go on about his/her day without having to ask clarifying questions via another email or phone call

write emails

Top 10 Tips for Writing Great Emails

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