Do you demand a high level of performance from yourself? One of the major reasons for orienting yourself towards results is the need to set higher standards for your work. Establishing a habit of a grading system will help you reflect on and better understand your performance, and ultimately help you make adjustments if needed.
When I was a young engineer I was rated as one of the top performers in my group for one reason. I had the ability to produce consistent results, over long periods of time, on a variety of assignments.
I know what you’re thinking: “There’s no way to be perfect on every task!” This is true, but performance in a knowledge-centered industry, like the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry does not have to mean robotic-like execution. However, it does demand consistency, over and over and over.
Therefore, keeping a record of your performance can help you to maintain this consistency. Your record should include your wins and your losses with respect to your engineering performance.
Performance Record Sample
Below is an example of how you might create and log a Personal Performance Record.
Keeping a record of your work in this format has several benefits. The record allows you to:
- Track the time you spent on tasks.
- Rate your performance (A through F).
- Provide remarks on your performance.
Importance of Grading System
We were graded in elementary school, probably with Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory marks. We were graded in high school and college. Why should we stop grading ourselves after graduation? How will we know if we are successful engineering professionals?
Remember this record is for you to use to improve your craft, so be honest with your reporting. The “Remarks” section is where you’ll find the gold. These remarks or thoughts can help you when reflecting or deciding what changes to make in your performance in the future.
I challenge you to start grading yourself as an engineer. Doing so will only make you better.
About Kyle K. Cheerangie, P.E.
Kyle is a young, motivated, Professional Engineer, on a mission to help fellow young, motivated, Professional Engineers develop themselves into the Executive Engineering Leaders of the future.
He gained high success early in his career through conscientious development of the skills necessary to succeed in the field, in the office, and with the client. His proven track record on mega design-build projects makes him a sought-after resource on complex highway designs and the go-to Engineer of Record for one the nation’s most agile tolling agencies.
Through his website EngineerJournals.com, Kyle disseminates the practices that lead to his success, through bite-sized action-oriented directions, meant to lead his readers from good performance to outstanding achievements.
We would love to hear any questions you might have or stories you might share about a grading system that works for you.
Please leave your comments, feedback or questions in the section below.
