WORKING WORLD 101: ACHIEVING SUCCESS AS A NOVICE ENGINEER Chapter 2: Act Like an Engineer, but Think Like a Manager Michael F. Cooper, PE Principal and Senior Mechanical Engineer HarleyEllis mfcooper@harleyellis.com 248–233–0146 The second in a series of articles designed to help novice engineers OK, now you’re a working engineer, although you may still be considered a rookie at your place of business. Hopefully, you’re using your engineering skills to tackle your assignments, that is, to identify pertinent technical issues, evaluate them and develop solutions to improve your client’s situation. There is no doubt that your engineering endeavors will be filled with unique challenges. Unfortunately, I am going to add one more to the already long list: Act like an engineer, but think like a manager. If you allow it, your engineering projects will keep you focused on technical issues. Remember, though, every project has a bigger picture. Each project is a process with its own objectives for quality, budget and schedule. The successful engineer must learn to pursue quality technical solutions and to complete the work on time and within budget. This is not easy, and many necessary skills are obtained through experience. I would like to offer some hints to guide you in the right direction. UNDERSTAND YOUR ROLE In most cases, you’ll be part of a project team. Whether your role is large or small, you’re responsible for the quality, budget and schedule of your own work. Don’t forget that the success of a project or company is built on the achievements of individuals. Historians often pose this question, “What makes you think that the acts of one person can change the course of human history” The answer…they’re the only things that ever have. MANAGE YOUR TIME Maintain a schedule for your activities and do your best to stick to it. Use checklists to stay focused on critical tasks. Prepare for meetings to keep them shorter and more productive. Many time management consultants advise to return voice/e-mail messages during predetermined times throughout the day. There is a story of a young engineer just out of school, who kept in touch with her family and friends via voice/e-mail. She didn’t realize, until her supervisor informed her, that the amount of time she spent keeping up with messages exceeded 4 hours per day. Fortunately, her supervisor was understanding and recognized the difference between poor performance and professional immaturity. He suggested she identify 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon to respond to work-related messages. He also advised her to conduct personal correspondence during a lunch break or after work. She apologized and took his advice to heart. She is now a successful project development engineer who mentors younger engineers on the importance of time management. COMMUNICATE EARLY AND OFTEN Be honest with your fellow team members and follow through on all commitments. Your ability to build trust and respect is forever linked with your integrity. Even if the news is bad, it is always better to know sooner (when corrective action can still be taken) than later. Listen to what you are being asked to do and make sure that you fully understand it. Ask questions if you are unsure of the proper course of action. Open-ended questions (for example, “What would you do in this situation”) usually provide better information than a series of yes/no questions. Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion, even on issues not directly related to your work: “That is not my job,” should never be part of your vocabulary. SERVE THE CLIENT Every member of an organization, including you, represents the firm. At some point, you’ll interface directly with your clients on some level. Listen to what they say and understand their objectives. Respond to voice/e-mail messages within 24 hours. If you tell clients you’ll do something for them, do it. If you can’t, inform them and let them know when it will be done. One strong client relationship will help them feel good about the company overall. Remember that quality is not just about products but customer service as well. With engineering, you’ve chosen a challenging, but incredibly rewarding, profession. Your success will represent hard work, intelligence and a broad range of professional talents—technical and managerial. With a little luck, you’re only at the beginning of a long, prosperous journey. 36 | Technology Century | AUGUST–SEPTEMBER 2005
as