How Engineering Companies Can Facilitate the Transition from Engineer to Manager
Image by creativeart on Freepik Image by de luis_molinero on Freepik Engineering companies are great at developing engineers. But what about the often natural transition of an engineer to an engineering manager? How can the organization help the engineer transition from the technical aspects of engineering to the soft aspects of management: the overall […]
3 Keys to Effective Communication for Successful Engineers
“The art of communication is the language of leadership” ~ James Humes Are you an effective communicator? Pause a moment before you answer that. If your instinct is to say “yes,” let me ask another question: Do those you work with believe you are an effective communicator? It might be worth asking them! If […]
Don’t Commit This Cardinal Sin of Delegation Like I Almost Did (Until My Son Helped Me Avoid It)
Image by luis_molinero on Freepik I had a long day of coaching, training, and podcasting and I was looking forward to unwinding at home that evening, believe it or not, by getting out and doing some yard work. Immediately after dinner, I told my wife and three kids, “I am going outside to mow the […]
Engineers Leave Companies When Their Career Paths Are Unclear
Hiring and training new employees is one of your biggest expenses, and it is costing you a lot more than money. In this post, I would like to provide strategies for improving your firm’s retention rate, regardless of how good (or bad) it may be. The Cost to Replace a Highly Trained Employee Can Exceed 200% of […]
How to Delegate Tasks Effectively (And Why You Should Do It)
This piece is on delegation, why you should do it, and how to do it right. First, though, check out how to do it badly. My husband and adult daughter were both working from home, as was I. I kept hearing them shout from the other room: “Is the internet down?” “Why does the web […]
How Can You Show Your Company That You’re Ready to Be an Engineering Manager?
Image by pressfoto on Freepik I received this question recently from a young engineer, and it’s one that many young engineers struggle with. They feel like they are ready to move into an engineering manager position, whether that be managing projects or people, but they don’t know how to show their companies they are […]
4 Simple Steps to High-Performing Engineering Teams for Engineering Managers
High-performing engineering teams are not the smartest. They are not the most experienced. The best engineering teams are exactly that… TEAMS. It’s not about IQ, but EQ (emotional and social intelligence). It’s less about brain-power and more about heart-power. Brains and experience surely help, but if you can’t get along and communicate well together then […]
A Message from Pearl Jam: Before You Become an Engineering Manager, Understand What Comes Along with the Title
“All the things that others want for me, can’t buy what I want because it’s free.” This a line from a song entitled “Corduroy” by the popular band Pearl Jam, led by famous vocalist Eddie Vedder. There has been much debate about the meaning of the song, but interviews with Vedder, as well as the lyrics, suggest […]
Three 3-Minute Articles to Discuss with Your Project Team to Create a Lifetime of Positive Change
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, that’s why you should do different activities that provide opportunities for a positive change. And here is an excellent example to do with your team… How to use this material and start a positive change: Discuss. Remind. Encourage. That’s my recommended […]
People Management: Top Guidelines to Develop Yourself and Your Team
“People management” — that’s the term nowadays for managing your people and yourself. It means you’re focusing on growing the employee side of your business. I’ve worked with engineers for over 20 years on the people management side of their business. That’s why my tagline is “If you don’t take care of your people, you […]