| Engineers
need to be influential. At all levels of an organization, engineers
should play a significant role in driving innovations that will
benefit customers and increase profits.
From the earliest stages of their careers, engineers are expected
to lead projects and teams, and to bring new ideas to fruition.
Senior-level engineers are expected to lead large, complex projects;
to drive innovation; and to provide guidance for less-experienced
peers. Excellent leadership skills are necessary to effectively
execute such responsibilities.
Engineers are trained to innovate, but, unfortunately, many have
not learned the skills necessary to influence others and to develop
ideas that increase profits. Many managers are trained to do this,
but they cant get into the minds of every engineer to harvest all
of their ideas.
Engineers, then, need to know how to articulate their thoughts so
that others will be inspired to build on them. They need to learn
how to drive projects and ideas to create innovations that customers
will value. While not every engineer will be the next Thomas Edison,
every engineer can aspire to accomplish great things that customers
will value. Engineers who dont have these goals need to ask themselves
Why not? Every manager who isnt encouraging their engineers to have
high aspirations should ask themselves the same question.
Following are seven reasons why technical professionals need leadership
skills:
• Technical acumen alone is not influential.
Technical gurus without leadership skills have limited influence.
Not many can achieve guru status, but wouldn't you rather be a guru
with technical master and the combination of business skills and
interpersonal skills that make a great leader?
• Leadership is not just for managers.
Leading and managing require different skill sets. Some leadership
experts might argue this point, but most agree that leadership has
little to do with “management.” Generally speaking,
managers should also be good leaders. However, strong leaders often
aren't suited to be managers, and forcing a strong leader into a
management role can be counterproductive.
• Engineers lead projects.
Even engineers who aren’t “project leads” provide
a certain amount of direction, and they need to influence others
to help get their work done.
• Engineers can guide less-experienced peers.
Guidance is providing direction one of the three basic definitions
of leadership (the other two are influence and authority).
• Engineers need to help their managers' business
succeed.
You may not be inspired to help your manager be more successful
as an individual, but you must be dedicated to helping your business
achieve success. If not, find another job.
• Engineers can influence decision-makers in their
organizations.
Engineers understand technology better than non-technical managers,
and they understand the details better than most technical managers.
• Everyone should be interested in building character.
Leadership is mostly character and a little bit of skill. People
listen to people who have integrity and who apply it well on the
job.
|
