Engineering Management Institute

Accountability

TCEP 170: Leading a Fast-Growing Civil Engineering Company in Today’s World

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fast-growing civil engineering company

In this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk to Peter Moore, P.E., LEED AP, ENV SP, F.ASCE, President of Chen Moore and Associates, and official nominee for worldwide ASCE President-Elect in 2021 about his experience over the years being a leader at a very fast-growing civil engineering company. The interesting part about his experience is that he became a part-owner at a very young age. He also discusses his vision as nominee for the ASCE President-Elect 2021.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Peter:

  1. How do you personally make sure you are working on the right things each day when leading a fast-growing civil engineering company?
  2. When you have a fast-growing civil engineering company, how do you identify and solve problems?
  3. How important is it to create and document core processes and practice them consistently across the company?
  4. How do you build your company culture and carry it through in the company?
  5. You are a nominee for the ASCE President-Elect in 2021. Can you share with us what your vision is as a nominee?

Here Are The Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Leading a Fast-Growing Civil Engineering Company:

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TCEP 148: How AEC Professionals Can Continue to Learn and Grow in This New ‘Normal’

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AEC Professionals

Learning is essential to our existence.  It is an indispensable tool for every career and organization. In this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I provide five ways that AEC firms can deliver training and make sure that their professionals continue to learn during what many people are calling the ‘new normal.’

Engineering Quotes:

AEC Professionals

AEC Professionals

Here Are Five Ways AEC Firms Can Ensure Their Professionals Continue to Learn and Grow in This ‘New Normal’

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Continuous Learning: Providing Coaching and Accountability

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 This is a guest blog by Mike Burns

Continuous LearningLast month’s blog discussed Embracing a Risk-Intelligent Approach. The guidance stated that we shouldn’t be paralyzed by unknown unknowns, allowing a risk-intelligent culture to support sustainable growth. In these uncertain times, as we respond to broad human suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, I’d like to expand on mitigating unknown unknowns as an introduction to our continuous learning discussion.

A risk-intelligent approach creates a culture where teachers, students – leaders, managers, and staff thrive in a continuous learning environment. As this culture matures; mitigating inherent risks and exploring opportunities becomes a natural output of our sustained discussions. Concurrently, these discussions will surface strategic risks, informed by our trajectory and influenced by systemic threats, e.g.financial crisis, geopolitical events, and pandemics.

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Revisiting Your 2020 Resolutions: 3-Month Check

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 This is a guest blog by Manny De La Cruz

If you take the time to look at the calendar, you will notice that it is already March. At the time of this writing, several significant events had already occurred in 2020. The mere mention of the following words will conjure up the high-pitched, almost childlike delivery of the phrase “Oh, yeah!” Australia, Mr. Peanut, Kobe, Coronavirus, and Megxit — just to name a few. Was I right? 

Unfortunately, another significant event is occurring in 2020. That’s right — the general abandonment of New Year’s resolutions. In December 2019, I did a latinXfactor series webinar for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, where I highlighted that 46% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions and only 8% of that population will see them realized. In that webinar, I proposed that students pursuing STEM degrees should not only commit to personal resolutions but also to resolutions that would aid their professional development. This same concept should also be applied to professionals in STEM.  

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Scientific Laws of Leadership

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This is a guest blog by Jeff Perry
Scientific Laws

As engineers, we learn massive amounts of equations, corollaries, theorems, and laws. These typically apply to mathematics or scientific laws that must be understood in order to make appropriate engineering designs and calculations. However, have you ever wondered if these scientific laws that the natural world follows have applications to our personal growth, development, and leadership? In my opinion, the answer is a clear “Yes!”

In this post, I’ll take examples from some of the most commonly known scientific laws of physics — Newton’s Laws of Motion. I’ll show you how these fundamental laws apply to the movement and progress of people and teams, not just physical objects. Then, I’ll provide suggestions actions, or “motions,” you can take in your own leadership. 

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What Engineers Should Look for When Choosing Career Mentors

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This is a guest post by Carol Evenson
Career Mentors

If you are one of almost 2 million engineers in the United States looking for a mentor, then you have made a smart career decision. Studies show receiving mentoring from the right career mentor can make a measurable difference. So, what should you look for in career mentors? Here’s some suggestions.

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TECC 176: How to Evaluate Which Professional Certificates Can Boost Your Career

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In this episode, I talk with Andrew Hoover of UW Continuum College about how to evaluate which professional certificates can boost your career. Andrew has a lot of experience in education, especially learning and gives some very insightful advice which can help you identify the credentials that can boost your engineering career.

Engineering Quotes:

Professional Certificates

Professional Certificates

Here are some of the key points discussed in this episode in regard to professional certificates:

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TECC 168: Personal Accountability Starts with the Question Behind the Question

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Personal Accountability Starts with the Question Behind the Question

In this episode, I talk with John G. Miller about Personal Accountability and his bestselling book entitled QBQ! The Question Behind the Question: Practicing Personal Accountability at Work and in Life.  Miller has spent many years speaking to thousands of professionals on how they can become more accountable in their careers and lives.

Tweetables:

Personal Accountability

Personal Accountability

Here are the key points discussed on Personal Accountability:

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TCEP 075: 5 Steps to Selecting 80/20 Goals to Boost your Civil Engineering Career

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5 Steps to Selecting 80/20 Goals to Boost your Civil Engineering Career

Selecting 80/20 Goals

In episode 075 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I am going to give you 5 steps for selecting 80/20 goals to boost your civil engineering career. I will also discuss how you can use Pareto Principle, which is also known as the 80/20 rule, to maximize your planning efforts.

Engineering Quotes:


Selecting 80/20 Goals
Selecting 80/20 Goals

Here are some key points discussed on selecting 80/20 goals:

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When Accountability Is Not The Best Strategy To Achieve Your Goals

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This is a guest blog post by Daniel Hayes, PE, PMP

goals

Accountability is all the rage.  Goal setting literature is full of articles, features and columns, touting the benefits of finding an accountabilibuddy, one whose job it is to keep you on track, moving forward on your goals, performing what you planned and promised.  While I agree that having someone hold me accountable makes perfect sense, the idea has never worked well for me.  I have always struggled being on the hook to someone else; so much that resistance to accountability often pushes me off course.  I find myself pushing back on accountability because of this.


I’ve always wondered if there was something wrong with me.  Why do I push back on those trying to support me?  Why does my work suffer when I am held externally accountable?  Does this inclination and behavior of mine have to sabotage my career and personal development?

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