Organization/Productivity/Time Management

Designing Our Ideal Day to Achieve Greater Success

February 28, 2022 By EMI

This is a guest post by Peter C. Atherton, P.E.

The number one reason most often expressed to me in strategic planning and team development work for not taking advantage of new opportunities is a “lack of time.”

A lack of time (and inability to effectively manage time) is not only holding many of us back from taking advantage of new opportunities, it’s hurting us individually and organizationally.

Managing our time and energy has — and always will — be critical to our success in almost all aspects of our lives. If we want to lead ourselves and others forward, especially today, we need to proactively “change the game” and establish a new model for better time management.

We have the power right now to better manage our time, and as leaders and managers, a “lack of time” can no longer be an excuse for not doing what needs to be done or not investing in what needs to be invested in, because:

We all have the same 24 hours in a day, and we make time for what we value or what we are “valuing.”
In the eyes of top talent and clients, constantly being busy and consumed is not a “badge of honor.” In fact, it’s become a “red flag.”
Asking ourselves and most others to just put in more time is untenable.

So, how can you begin to solve the “lack of time” problem? Learning how to design your ideal day and then aligning it with others is a great place to start. I recommend five key steps in designing your ideal day.

Trends & Predictions for Professional Services Firms in 2022 (From a CEO)

January 17, 2022 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Leanna Michniuk from BigTime Software

Whether we can believe it or not, 2022 is here. What does this mean for people and firms in the professional services industry? If it’s anything like the past two years, we can expect … well, the unexpected.

Using what he’s learned and experienced firsthand throughout his career and leading a company through a pandemic, Brian Saunders, CEO of BigTime Software, sat down to share his predictions for the new year with one key theme in mind — preparation.

Keep on reading to get an inside look into what Brian foresees in the upcoming year and his advice for making it a successful one.

The Ways Technology Maintains Productivity of Teams That Work Remotely

September 24, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Brian T.

Wondering how advanced technology can assist businesses in making their teams productive? In this article, I will discuss several ways how technology has already optimized the work of remote employees!

Last year, businesses witnessed a fundamental transformation of the traditional office due to the havoc caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in a kind of “remote-work economy,” which is presumably to be a foundation even after the pandemic is long since passed.

The above-mentioned became a new issue for businesses as well as staff because remote work has become a common practice. However, the growing access of super-fast internet, side-by-side with the development of cloud computing, has enriched present businesses with the infrastructure that is necessary to promptly adjust to multiple remote work challenges.

As a result, according to Statista, small and medium-sized enterprises are expected to invest more than $100 billion on teamwork tools, cloud-based apps, cybersecurity platforms, and many other remote digital services during 2021-2023. Online business-to-business (B2B) marketplaces like Engre are also gaining momentum. This innovative technology has turned out to be an integral part of business daily routines. Offices, educational establishments, and even hospitals count on contemporary tech to guarantee that business processes function as usual.

Nowadays, people are free to work from anywhere, partner with each other seamlessly, optimize client care, and gain new skills and competencies online. Let’s explore how technology maintains the productivity of employees who work remotely.

Technology Reconsiders Remote Work Culture

How To Write SMART Goals, Courtesy of a Moose

January 11, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Pamela A. Scott

Several years ago, we took a family vacation to Maine. Being a savvy professional, I set official goals for the trip. I wrote them down, of course. Goals aren’t real unless you write them down.

I shared my written goals with a peer group. I even wrote them down in the visitors’ registration book at a Maine information center.

“Goals for Maine trip: to get a green tourmaline ring and to see a moose.”

Before I tell you what happened, let’s look at how to set goals using the SMART method, a tried-and-true model for goal setting. And very fitting for this time of year.

Identify Your SMART Goals

How to Discover Your Work Style and Personal Value

September 28, 2020 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Kyle K. Cheerangie, P.E.

Engineering requires deep and focused thought. There are two primary engineering positions: the Engineer and the Engineering Manager. Each requires a unique work style.

The main performance environment of the Engineer is at their desk in solitude. Engineers, the technical staff, typically require silence in order to focus on their work. The main performance environment of the Engineering Manager is in the group. Engineering Managers, the group leaders, must thrive in leading a group to accomplish the work.

Although their working environments and work types are different, each professional must understand their personal work style.

There Are Several Factors That Make up Your Personal Work Style:

Winning With Impact: How to Stand Out in the Workplace, Marketplace, and Recruiting Space

August 24, 2020 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Peter C. Atherton, P.E.

Whether newer to the workforce or with 20 or more years’ experience, so many of us are:

Feeling the weight of burnout and disengagement,
Yearning for more meaning and purpose, and
Wanting to make a difference in solving issues facing our world and those we care about.

Organizationally, many of us are also struggling to attract and retain inspired talent, clients, vendors, and partners to help us grow and be sustained.

There are many factors that lead to these circumstances, but when the prolonged work overload is finally addressed and the workflow improved, how do we better engage?

After we have “mastered our craft” and “made a name” for ourselves, how do we find greater meaning and purpose — and make a difference beyond the office and our immediate families?

Even as we build our careers, how can we leverage what we know to have a bigger impact and to improve our communities and the lives of others?

How to Create Your Most Productive Day in 30 Minutes

June 2, 2020 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Matthew Gaddy

Would you believe me if I told you the only thing between you and the most productive day you’ve had is 30 minutes?

Thirty minutes is all it takes to transition from feeling overwhelmed and stressed out to an engineer who has a plan to be productive and conquer their day.

Keep reading to find out how you can take control over your day, get your most important priorities accomplished, and stay productive.

1. Get to Your Workstation 30 Minutes Early (30 Minutes Till Work)

I know you may have stress about going to work because you feel like you have so much to do and don’t know where to begin, and that’s OK! Prepare yourself before the actual work starts by getting to your workstation 30 minutes early.

This will allow you time to plan out your day without being rushed. By planning your day, you can schedule your success. Creating a plan before work begins allows you to be proactive with productivity instead of simply reacting to outside influences. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

Work From Home Productivity Tips for Engineers

March 13, 2020 By EMI

Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, many engineering companies across the United States and beyond are implementing travel restrictions and work from home directives.

I have had the opportunity to work from home, on and off, over the last ten years, and as nice as it sounds, one of the biggest challenges with doing it effectively is staying focused and productive. I’ve accumulated some of my own work from home productivity tips over the years and thought this would be a good time to share them.

Please leave comments or questions below and I will respond to them.

5 Modern Strategies to Integrate AEC Disciplines in 2020

January 3, 2020 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Daniel Quindemil

One of the biggest challenges we face in construction is integrating all of the AEC disciplines in our projects so their valuable input can positively affect the project.

There are many people involved in a project, including the Owner, Architect, Engineer, General Contractor, Subcontractors, Lenders, Owner’s Representatives, and more. How can you start a project the right way and then integrate the Owner, Architect, and the others during construction?

The key disciplines that need careful integration are the Architect, Engineer, and Contractor (AEC). These are the organizations that design the projects and carry out their execution.

This Is How Engineers Can Build a Good Work-Life Balance

December 9, 2019 By EMI

This is a guest post by Nader Mowlaee

To have a good work-life balance, you can’t live your life to work. It should be the other way around: Work so you can have a good life. That may sound too good to be true for you right now, but don’t allow—not even for one second—any doubt to settle in your heart or your mind that you can’t have that. We have all been there at least once, working on projects 50 to 60 hours per week and still feeling like we’re spinning our wheels.

I understand that deadlines don’t often change, and that in tough times we must go all-in to finish projects on time. But this means that you’re getting deep into working overtime while at the same time training yourself and everyone around you that you are capable of working more than you should—and since you want to be a good sport, you can work overtime while keeping a good attitude.