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  • 1.  Professional Development of Soft Skills

    Posted 02-12-2020 04:39 PM
    ​I was curious as to ways that engineers used to develop their soft skills. The majority of us are focused on our technical skills needed to perform our basic engineering functions to include designing bridges and assess soil strength. At the same time, we have to hone in our soft skills to include knowledge of leadership, management, finance and HR. I am very interested in the path that others took to achieve proficiency in these important areas.

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    Maher Abed P.E., M.ASCE
    Director of Consulting Management
    Smyrna GA
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  • 2.  RE: Professional Development of Soft Skills

    Posted 02-13-2020 04:53 PM

    Maher, excellent question. I learned my leadership skills in the same way as you probably have, as a commissioned officer in the US Army. When I returned to civilian life I honed those skills through reading numerous books written by successful civilian leaders. If I had to recommend only one book it would be the simple "One Minute Manager" by Ken Blanchard. 

    In my career I suddenly found myself promoted to a high level position in a water utility.  I needed to learn those other skills you mention, and fast. I spent three semesters taking night courses to complete a program leading to a Certificate in in Executive Management. This was like a crash mini MBA course. I learned how to comprehend financial statements, HR rules and processes and organizational development. This was an invaluable resource for me. I expect that many universities or colleges near you offer similar programs, probably online in this internet age. Check it out. 



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    Bevin Beaudet P.E., M.ASCE
    President/Owner
    Bevin A. Beaudet, P.E., LLC.
    West Palm Beach FL
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  • 3.  RE: Professional Development of Soft Skills

    Posted 06-03-2020 03:41 PM

    Thanks Maher for so clearly summarizing and identifying the major gap in the education of most all engineers.

          One tell-tale is what engineering educators do to "Disguise" this gap i.e., they refer to it as "Soft Skills."  Really? At most, some 9 months into an engineer's first employment they discover that their ability to apply their engineering work is constrained mainly by their lack of knowledge about the real-world's "Hard Skills," i.e. "How to play nice with others," specifically those who have different opinions about what to do and how to do it.

     Re: "I am very interested in the path that others took to achieve proficiency in these important areas."

    First, I suggest what you have identified as specific target subjects be elevated and captured into 4 (four) categories: People, Process, Technology, and Leadership. For example, you note "focused on our technical skills needed to perform our basic engineering functions to include designing bridges and assess soil strength."    

          What makes the application of the technology engineers are proficient of, in and of itself, has little to nothing to do with the required engineering technology itself. What makes it "A bit challenging" is when an engineer has to do that work with other people. And 4 (Four) boundary conditions are equally challenging:

    1. When the colleague you work with agrees with you quickly.
    2. When the colleague you work with disagrees with you quickly.
    3. When your colleague just goes along to get along.
    4. When "Fear" to say what you think, when it would add the most value.

     Some core elements to learn as part of the system of  management:

    1. When someone makes a statement or asks a question, answer them saying

    "That's interesting. Can you tell me a bit more?"

    1. Form a curriculum, send it to your folks, and ask them to note what might be added and deleted.
    2. Provide choices for participants as to access:

                  -Education. . . .Address your delivery system to learn  new perspectives for familiar situations.

                  -Training . . . .Targeted skill improvement to raise competence at work now.

                  -Development . .Establish a "Shadow" program for individuals to accompany more accomplished staff to significant opportunity to learn without directly participating at that time, i.e., observe, take notes, and chat AFTER that experience.

    1. Add "Servant Leadership"to the program.

    Finally, contact Dr. Stuart Walesh, P.E., M.ASCE, who lectures, teaches, and consults for ASCE in not only the subjects you ask for, and also what and how to plan the overall process to accomplish your stated goals.

     

    Stay Healthy!

    Cheers,

    Bill



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    William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
    Buffalo, N.Y.

    "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
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  • 4.  RE: Professional Development of Soft Skills

    Posted 06-08-2020 02:51 PM
    Hi Maher, great question! Despite being late to the party here I think I can add some insight. 

    I'm still in the early stages of my career, but so far the most talented and 'on-to-it' engineers I have met are those for whom engineering is just one of the things they do. The soft skills you're talking about are not just professional skills, they are also excellent life skills. So I think developing soft skills is about becoming a well-rounded individual and about expanding your perspective and experience.

    Bevin Beaudet had a great example in his response to your question with his experience in the Army. Other engineers with great soft skills I've met are also journalists, facilitators, musicians, and global nomads. All of these different parts of their lives give them valuable learning experiences which I think aren't as easy to come by in the traditional engineering career path.

    For myself, I volunteer with Engineers Without Borders. This has allowed me to live in all sorts of new cultures, its forced me to adapt and learn new skills, but it's also given me important professional experiences and responsibilities that I wouldn't have been given in my employment at such an early stage in my career. At the beginning of this year I was volunteering as a mentor in Nepal for a group of Australian engineering students who were on a study tour to learn about international development, empathy, and cross-cultural collaboration. Not only did I learn about these things but I also developed skills to lead myself as well as to lead teams.

    I'm really glad you brought up this question because I think employers can have a huge role in empowering their employees at all levels to push their boundaries and grow as people. As with any skill, it's easy to learn about it, but you need practice to actually learn how to use it.

    Cheers,
    Derryn

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    Derryn Bracey Aff.M.ASCE
    Washington DC
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