Engineering Management Institute

Personal Development and Professionalism

Mentorship in Engineering: How to Find and Cultivate a Transformational Relationship

By

This is a guest post by Jeff Perry, MBA

Mentorship

Image of Drazen Zigic on Freepik

“Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you someone who had real positive influences in his or her life. I don’t care what you do for a living — if you do it well, I’m sure there was someone cheering you on or showing the way. A mentor.” ~ Denzel Washington

Mentors are crucial to success in life and careers. A mentorship can change the game, accelerate your progress, help you unlock insights you wouldn’t otherwise know, and connect you with people you wouldn’t otherwise meet.

Other benefits of mentorship include:

  • Providing accountability
  • Building strong, lasting relationships
  • Removing roadblocks
  • Helping you choose the right path and understanding how to take that path

In other words, a mentor can help you go faster and further than is possible alone!

This article will focus on the HOW — to find a mentor, start a mentoring relationship, and build it into something transformational.

Finding a Mentor

“Your mentors in life are important, choose them wisely” ~ Bill Walsh

Before you start asking people to be your mentor, it’s critical to understand what you are even looking for!

Here are qualities of great mentors you should be looking for:

[Read more…] about Mentorship in Engineering: How to Find and Cultivate a Transformational Relationship

Situational Awareness: The Key to Engineering Leadership Success

By

Situational Awareness

Image by katemangostar on Freepik

Jameson Taillon, a pitcher for the New York Yankees, recently posted his first win in two years. For someone whose career has been rattled by adversity, including multiple arm surgeries and a bout with cancer, it was a special moment. (UPDATE: Please note Taillon was on the New York Yankees when this article was originally published, and is now on the Chicago Cubs).

However, in listening to his post-game interview, it was something other than his story that caught my attention. He had a very rough start to the 2021 season, his first as a Yankee. He’d been hit pretty hard in his previous outings. So, in talking about his first win, what impressed me was hearing him speak intently about the importance of situational awareness.

Prior to his first win, he had gone back and reviewed the game tapes from the previous outings this year, and his study as well as the statistics gave him an important piece of information. He was terrible when facing batters with two strikes. In fact, he had given up more hits than any other pitcher in all of Major League Baseball that year against hitters with two strikes.

For those of you who aren’t baseball fans, when a hitter has two strikes against them, the pitcher usually has the advantage, and more times than not wins the battle.

Once Taillon identified this weakness, he focused aggressively on improving in that specific area. So, in the game that he won, any time he had two strikes on a hitter, he recognized it, took some additional time between pitches, and was really intentional about the pitches he made in those situations.

I have provided executive coaching to many engineering managers and executives. Most of them have a pretty good understanding of where their weaknesses lie, and if they don’t, I can usually help them to identify them through conversations with their staff. However, as Taillon has displayed, identifying your weaknesses is only one step in the right direction. It is then imperative that you display situational awareness, so that when you are in a situation where these weaknesses may take over, you become hyper-aware of the situation so that you can overcome them in the moment.

[Read more…] about Situational Awareness: The Key to Engineering Leadership Success

How to Build a Successful YouTube Channel for Engineers (2023 Guide)

By

This is a guest blog by Cris Mark Baroro

YouTube Channel

Image by graphictwister on Freepik

Engineering and engineering-related videos are extremely popular on YouTube. These encompass a wide variety of videos from product videos to power supply design and implementation, people who make their own 3D printers and CNC machines, HVAC design, and implementation, etc. Although there is plenty to learn from viewing these videos, creating a successful YouTube channel may be difficult and requires hard work. If done right, it can greatly help your career and branding as an engineer.

YouTube Channel

Here Are Some Tips to Help You Build Your Personal Brand on YouTube as an Engineer:

Build Your Channel

[Read more…] about How to Build a Successful YouTube Channel for Engineers (2023 Guide)

Proactive Steps to Build Relationships and Manage Work Circumstances

By

This is a guest blog by Gina Covarrubias

Proactive

Image from Freepik

How can you be more proactive to better manage work circumstances and the people in your day-to-day? Here are three topics to consider, along with tips and exercises, to propel yourself toward a path of successful career management.

Tip 1: Squash the Ego and Increase Likability

Researcher and leadership consultant Cy Wakeman brilliantly describes ego in her book, “No Ego.” She states:

“Ego will coax you to be one up or persuade you to be one down. One up, and you’re convinced you’re right, you’re better than the others, and people should always listen to you. One down, and you’re misunderstood, helpless and a victim of circumstances.”

An effective tool to aid your navigation through the nuances of human nature is to recognize and mitigate your own ego.

Proactive

Ego doesn’t want to consider things like forgiveness, moving on, taking full accountability, or open-mindedness. It wants approval, recognition, and validation. It wants to be right, and it doesn’t consider the costs. Too much ego can hamper the ability to find creative solutions. Worse, self-growth will be hindered, and you may experience people leaving your network.

This is no way to manage a successful career! So, how does one recognize and mitigate ego?

[Read more…] about Proactive Steps to Build Relationships and Manage Work Circumstances

How Engineers Can Break Through Career and Personal Development Barriers

By

This is a guest post by Jeff Perry, MBA

Image from Freepik

 

We all have something that feels like if we could change or get over it and turn the weakness into a strength, it would unlock all sorts of progress and opportunities for us.

Uncovering what this change is and how to overcome it so we can move forward with purpose and confidence is what we are focused on today!

What Is Holding You Back?

Before you can start making changes, you first need to know what you need to change.

For me, it’s being present. With clients, with my work, and with my family. All too frequently my wife is like “Hey, be with us…” or I lose myself in the latest sports news update instead of remaining focused on the work I’m doing. Yep, there is work to do!

Additionally, here are just a few examples I have seen from people I have worked with:

  • An experienced engineer about three months into his new job at Blue Origin recognized that if he could effectively create better professional relationships, it would enable him to reach his goal of making the shift to work in a new group that is working on a project he is VERY interested in (think long-term living in space).
  • A senior data engineering leader recognized had already needed to take time off to get her health in check. She needed to figure out how to grow her team in a fast-moving startup while also staying healthy and creating boundaries for herself. Basically, not taking it all on herself and saying “yes” to everything.
  • An owner of an engineering business was taking it all on and losing himself in his work. He needed to build his team and create expectations with his clients and those he worked with while delegating and enabling his team to take on more responsibility. This would keep him from burning out (he got MAJOR sick for a while), and allow him to enjoy more time with his wife and kids.

So what’s your big change? What is the NUMBER ONE thing that would help you unlock your potential?

Why You Haven’t Made the Change

[Read more…] about How Engineers Can Break Through Career and Personal Development Barriers

Engineering Your Success: 5 Steps to Building Your Expertise and Confidence

By

This is a guest post by Tiffani Teachey

Expertise and Confidence

“Engineering success is not about having all the answers, but about asking the right questions, seeking feedback, and continuously learning.” – Unknown

As an engineer, having a strong foundation of expertise and confidence in your field is crucial for your long-term success and career advancement. Whether you are just starting out or looking to enhance your skills, there are a number of key steps you can take to build your professional competencies. From staying up-to-date with industry developments and seeking feedback from others, to setting achievable goals and continuously learning, these steps will help you grow and progress in your career as an engineer. In this blog, we will delve into each of these important topics and provide actionable advice to help you build your expertise and confidence as an engineer.

Stay Up to Date

Staying up to date is crucial for engineers to remain competitive and relevant in their field. The technology industry is constantly evolving, and it’s essential to be aware of the latest advancements and trends. One way to stay informed is by reading articles and keeping up with industry news and blogs. This will help you stay updated on the latest technologies and advancements, as well as emerging trends and best practices. Another way to stay up to date is by attending conferences and workshops. Attending industry events can provide you with a wealth of knowledge, as well as the opportunity to network with other engineers and experts in your field. These events are also a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience and learn from industry experts. By staying up to date and informed, you can stay ahead of the curve and enhance your expertise as an engineer.

Expertise and Confidence

Seek Feedback

[Read more…] about Engineering Your Success: 5 Steps to Building Your Expertise and Confidence

3 Proven Methods to Becoming a Better Engineer

By

This is a guest post by Tiffani Teachey

Better Engineer

“The engineer’s first problem in any design situation is to discover what the problem really is.” ~ Unknown

Engineering is an ever-evolving field, and staying on top of the latest trends is essential for success. As an engineer, you need to stay abreast of emerging technologies and develop your skill set in order to remain competitive in the job market. Here are some tips for becoming a better engineer and advancing in your career.

#1 Stay Up-to-Date on Technology Trends

It’s important to keep up with the latest advances in engineering technology. The industry is constantly changing, and understanding new technologies will give you an edge over other engineers who are stuck using outdated methods and systems. You can read industry publications or attend seminars and workshops to stay informed about the newest developments in engineering technology.

Better Engineer

#2 Develop Your Soft Skills

Engineers often think of their job as purely technical, but it’s just as important to have strong soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, time management, leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking. These skills are essential for working effectively with colleagues on projects or leading teams. Consider joining a professional organization or attending a conference to network with other professionals in your field and develop these important skills.

#3 Focus on Quality Work

[Read more…] about 3 Proven Methods to Becoming a Better Engineer

How to Stand Out in High-Stakes Meetings

By

This is a guest blog post by Dr. Angelique Adams

High-Stakes MeetingsHigh-stakes meetings are meetings where you want to impress people. You know that this kind of meeting is a great opportunity to get your ideas heard and possibly dazzle leaders with your brilliance.

The problem is when you get to the meeting, you choke!

You are nervous that you are going to say the wrong thing and that people are going to think you are stupid. Or, you are worried that you might inadvertently make a colleague look bad. You might have trouble following along in the meeting because they may be referring to terms, locations, or people that aren’t familiar to you.

What started out as an exciting opportunity, morphs into you spending the meeting thinking, “What should I say, and when should I say it?” Eventually, about halfway through the meeting, you start saying to yourself, “Oh my goodness, I am going to miss this opportunity”!

Sound familiar?

You’re not alone. Fortunately, there is an easy fix — if you’re willing to change your mindset.

[Read more…] about How to Stand Out in High-Stakes Meetings

How to Use Personal Branding to Build Your Engineering Career

By

This is a guest post by Tiffani Teachey

Personal BrandingBuilding a successful career as an engineer is essential to establishing yourself as a credible expert in your field. One of the best ways to do this is through personal branding. By creating a solid personal brand, you can make yourself visible and recognizable within your industry, which can help you stand out from the competition and lead to more excellent opportunities for advancement. If you’re looking to build your engineering career, using personal branding is a strategy you should consider!

This post will discuss how personal branding can help engineers reach their career goals. We’ll also provide tips on how to get started with personal branding. So, if you’re ready to take your engineering career to the next level, keep reading!

“You can be sure others do it for you if you’re not branding yourself.” ~ Unknown

Here are three ways to use personal branding to build your engineering career:

[Read more…] about How to Use Personal Branding to Build Your Engineering Career

3 Radical Responsibility Coaching Tips for Engineering Success

By

This is a guest post by Zachary White

What is the most frustrating problem you are dealing with right now?

The one that keeps you up at night.

Got it?

Good.

Now be honest. How did this happen? What caused the situation? How did this problem end up in your lap? Why are you the one who has to solve this?

95% of engineering leaders answer these questions the same way.

  • “My boss is demanding an unrealistic timeline.”
  • “The culture at my company is toxic. It’s a leadership problem.”
  • “I have unreasonable demands from my supplier.”
  • “Insert your own example…”

As a Victim

Before you scoff and scroll to another post, let’s take a quick timeout.

The fact that you are reading this blog says something about you. Growth and development matter to you. Learning how to coach your engineering team and hold them accountable is important to you.

[Read more…] about 3 Radical Responsibility Coaching Tips for Engineering Success