Engineering Management Institute

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The 3 D’s of Productivity or How to Work Smarter not Faster as an Engineer

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This is a guest blog post by Skye J. Coleman, PE

3 D’s of ProductivityThese days, the modern engineering office is filled with cubicles stacked right next to one another. Two monitors sit on each desk and low-profile dividers barely separate one person from the next. For 8 to 10 hours a day, Monday through Friday, engineers young and old sit pensively at their assigned work station, cranking away at their to-do lists trying to meet or beat their next deadline. It’s time to change things up and get to know the 3 D’s of productivity.

So, if you’re an engineer in one of those offices, I hate to tell you… but your work output is pathetic.

Chances are, most of those deadlines will not be hit and if they are the resulting project work will only be partially finished. Distractions and fires from previously “completed” projects will take priority and the proverbial can will be kicked down the road to construction phase services where you’ll have to answer immediate RFI’s from the field distracting you from the design project assigned to you at that time. [Read more…] about The 3 D’s of Productivity or How to Work Smarter not Faster as an Engineer

TECC 019: The Engineering Career Coach Podcast – How to Work Smarter as an Engineer by Utilizing Both Sides of Your Brain

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TECC 019: The Engineering Career Coach Podcast – How to Work Smarter as an Engineer by Utilizing Both Sides of Your Brain

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In this session of The Engineering Career Coach Podcast, I interview Stu Walesh, PE, an independent consultant who provides management, engineering, and education/training services to private, public, academic, and volunteer organizations. Our discussion is focused on how engineers can utilize the right sides of their brains to become better rounded. The content comes from a book Stu is currently writing entitled Creativity and Innovation for Engineers, which will be published by Pearson Prentice Hall.

Most engineers lean heavily on the left (or analytical) side of the brain. During this session, Stu explains why it is important to also utilize the right (or creative) side of the brain and gives tips for doing so.

The Engineering career coach - Work Smarter“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!” – Dr. Seuss

The career-changing tip at the end of the show will discuss four “C”s to help you make change and create new habits: competence, communication, conscience, and creativity.

Listen to this session and learn: [Read more…] about TECC 019: The Engineering Career Coach Podcast – How to Work Smarter as an Engineer by Utilizing Both Sides of Your Brain