Engineering Management Institute

Personal Development and Professionalism

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

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This is a guest blog by Cris Mark Baroro

YouTube ChannelEngineering 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

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Proactive Steps to Build Relationships and Manage Work Circumstances

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This is a guest blog by Gina Covarrubias

ProactiveHow 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?

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How Engineers Can Break Through Career and Personal Development Barriers

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This is a guest post by Jeff Perry, MBA

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

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

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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

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3 Proven Methods to Becoming a Better Engineer

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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

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How to Stand Out in High-Stakes Meetings

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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.

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How to Use Personal Branding to Build Your Engineering Career

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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:

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3 Radical Responsibility Coaching Tips for Engineering Success

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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.

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Four Skills Engineers Can Learn From Entrepreneurs

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This is a guest post by Patrick Sweet, P.Eng., MBA, PMP, CSEP

Whether you plan to launch a business or work within an existing organization, approaching the world from an entrepreneur’s perspective can be incredibly valuable for engineers. At their core, both engineers and entrepreneurs are problem-solvers. By approaching the world from the mindset of an entrepreneur, engineers of all disciplines can become stronger in their fields.

Here Are Four Skills That Engineers Would Do Well to Adopt:

1. Entrepreneurs See Opportunity

Entrepreneurs see the world in terms of opportunities. They are able to identify problems and pain points that, if solved, would create incredible value for people. Where many people see problems and are content simply to complain about them, entrepreneurs are able to see a world where that problem is actually solved and take strides to make that world a reality.

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3 Ways Engineers Can Build Self-Confidence

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This is a guest post by Tiffani Teachey

Build Self-ConfidenceEngineers often face challenges that can test their self-confidence. Whether it’s dealing with difficult problems or working with challenging team members, there are plenty of situations that can knock an engineer’s confidence down. However, there are three specific ways engineers can use to build self-confidence and come out on top: learning new skills, seeking feedback, and practicing assertiveness. In this blog post, we’ll explore each of these methods in detail and provide tips on how to put them into practice. By following these tips, you’ll be able to boost your self-confidence and become a more successful engineer. 

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