Engineering Management Institute

Effective Communication

3 Essential Skills for Engineers to Become Proficient at Selling

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This is a guest post by Tiffani Teachey

Become Proficient at SellingMany engineers are incredibly smart, skilled people who can figure out how things work and fix them when they break down. A well-spoken engineer can sell their products or services like nobody’s business. It doesn’t matter if they are pitching an idea or defending the work they’ve done on behalf of their company in front of clients and investors. Unfortunately, not all engineers know how to sell themselves or their ideas well enough for them to succeed in business today. I want to help change that with these three essential sales skills engineers should have if they want their product/idea/service bought by consumers today and to become proficient at selling. 

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TCEP 187: Project Development Plans: Ensuring Project Success

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project development plans

In this episode, I talk to Jamie Graham, P.E., PTOE, Traffic and Transportation Department Manager at Carroll Engineering Corporation, about project development plans and how they can set your projects up for success. Jamie also talks about the skills he looks for in project engineers when he is building a team.

Engineering Quotes:

project development plans

project development plans

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Jamie:

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TCEP 135: Effective Communication Is Key With People at All Levels in Civil Engineering

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TCEP 135: Effective Communication Is Key With People at All Levels in Civil Engineering

In this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, our tenth episode in our Women in Civil Engineering series, I talk to Disa Wahlstrand, PE, LEED AP, who is a vice president of municipal services and water resources operations for Ayres in Wisconsin. We will be talking about engineering in STEM, big picture mindsets, and why communication is key in multidisciplinary teams.

Engineering Quotes:

Communication Is Key

Communication Is Key

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Disa:

  • How can we influence the attitudes of students, especially females, about engineering and STEM in general?
  • Why do you enjoy doing campus planning?
  • Can you talk to us about your experience being a vice president in a mid-sized company?
  • What can you share with civil engineers out there about transitioning into their careers?
  • Why would you say communication is key for civil engineers?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Why Effective Communication Is Key for Civil Engineers:

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TCEP 121: From Engineer to CEO and Everything In-Between

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In episode 121 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I will be bringing you with me to visit with William T. Thomsen, PE, who is the President and CEO of Urban Engineers of New York, DPC. We will be talking about his career journey and what has factored into his success and progression from engineer to Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  He’ll also talk about how his Engineering Management degree has helped him in his career.

Engineering Quotes:

Engineer to CEO

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Bill Thomsen, PE:

  1. Take us through your career progression from engineer to CEO?
  2. At what point in your career did you become part of the executive leadership team?
  3. What does it take to manage large scale projects like the ones you have managed?
  4. Your father was the President of a construction company, how did his career influence your career?
  5. You have a degree in Engineering Management, how has that degree helped you?
  6. What worries you about the Civil Engineering industry right now?
  7. Is it possible to have work-life balance as an engineering executive?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Going from Engineer to CEO:

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TCEP 100: The Civil Engineering Podcast Episode 100 Compilation Episode

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Compilation

In this episode, we have published a special compilation episode which consists of clips from some of our past episodes related to our career elevator advice question. This question gets asked at the end of each episode and goes as follows: “If you got into an elevator with a civil engineer and had about 30 to 40 seconds with him or her and had to give him or her career advice in that short period of time, what would it be?”  We are so grateful for the support of our listeners and excited to share this milestone 100th episode with you!

Engineering Quote:

Here is a summary of the elevator advice from our guests in this compilation episode:

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How to Go from Managing to Leading a Team of Engineers

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This is a guest blog post by Carol Evenson

 

Managing

Effectively managing any group of employees can be a difficult proposition, but providing leadership for an engineering team or department typically entails a number of unique challenges. Simply managing the efforts of an engineering staff may not always be sufficient. Managers who are able to provide clear direction, ensure that their group is able to function as a cohesive team, and avoid the most common and costly missteps and oversights are far more likely to make the leap from simply managing their staff to leading their engineering team to greater success.

The Importance of Effective Communication

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