3 Traits Every Engineering Manager Needs to Develop
Managing a team of engineers is an awesome opportunity, but one that needs to be done well. In order to succeed, there are many traits you will want to develop so you can do the job effectively. In this article, we will focus on three key traits that, if you can develop as strengths, will […]
Like All Professionals, Engineers Quit Managers Not Companies
Image by senivpetro on Freepik This article was originally posted on LinkedIn here. There is an infamous saying that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: People Quit Managers, Not Companies I’ve spent the last 10 years traveling to over 30 U.S. states speaking and training thousands of engineering professionals, and I can attest to […]
How to Become a Better Engineering Leader
Image by Drazen Zigic on Freepik Being an engineering leader is about understanding what is going on around you. In the military, it is called “Situational Awareness.” Often, the people with the most pertinent and relevant information about the situation are those working for you. Questions are powerful tools, and knowing how to […]
The Benefits of Conflict Resolution for Engineers
“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” ~ Marie Curie Conflict resolution is an essential skill for any engineer. When disputes arise, it is crucial to have the ability to calmly and effectively communicate with […]
There Is No Such Thing as a Free Lunch
I believe there is a general consensus that buying pizza as lunch for the office leads to an unquantifiable increase in office morale. And, i would extend this further and say that in general, food is a great motivator and healthy food, being an energy sustainer, is by extension a visible morale booster. I once […]
Shut Down Analysis Paralysis and Start to “Satisfice”
Do you struggle to make decisions? Most of us do—at least when dealing with something significant. Do you find yourself trapped by analysis paralysis? Many of us do. We think and we think and we think, and then we think some more. And maybe we eventually act. I believe decision-making and analysis paralysis are intertwined. […]
Learning to Lead and Succeed with ‘SFA’: Success From Anywhere
COVID forced “work from home.” Then evolved the idea of “work from anywhere” – whether that be home, a local café, or other workspace. As we work through the sometimes half-hearted attempts to bring our employees back to the office, the organizational development and talent attraction and retention idea that I believe will stick is […]
The Power of a Personal Brand for Engineering Managers
Whether you realize it or not, you have a brand. This may come as a surprise to you. After all, you’re an engineering manager, and not some sort of company or a product. But it’s true. In fact, everyone has a brand. Everyone is known for something among their friends and colleagues. The real question […]
The Power of Building Accountable Teams for Excellent Performance
When executives are asked what leadership skills they wish their leaders were better at, one of the most common responses is the ability to hold their people accountable. This indicates a red flag, as it is an indicator that the organization as a whole is not very accountable. Rather than a focus on holding others […]
The 8 Best Leadership Books You Need to Read
In any industry, leadership is a real skill. That goes double for anyone in the engineering field. If you have recently moved to a management position, or have your eye on one in the future, you should check out these leadership books right now.