7 things that Good Engineers DON'T do

1. Stop asking questions or looking for help. We can't possibly know it all, nor can we have solutions to every single problem a contractor may throw at us. Therefore the opinions of other experienced engineers [and graduates] will be a constant source of new ideas and confidence for us all.
2. Cannot admit when they are wrong. Much like the previous point, as we mature and gain experienced, some of us will find it very difficult to accept another persons point of view, or design opinions. Even if it is more suitable than our own. Admitting we are wrong can be very humbling, and it helps us build a more trusting relationship with those who seek to help us.
3. Let numbers get in the the way of good old fashioned pragmatic design. Not everything we design can be built, and not everything we build can be without some mathematical ambiguity. The artful process of engineering demands that we [from time to time] make a judgement call, or use empirical data to justify our calculations....by Inspection. Of course.
4. Treat criticism as a personal attack. We learn by our mistakes, and thankfully by following good practices and being a competent technician, many opportunities to botch a job up may have been already avoided. So when we are criticised for doing something [or not doing something] then this should be taken as constructive advice... and appreciated. Real personal attacks are a very rare occurrence. Most people love us engineers! [see here]
5. Rush headlong into structural analysis and design. We need to slow down. Take a moment, and consider the possible alternatives before we tap in a formulae or read a design table. Zoom out first, then zoom right in. Quite often, this practise saves us from a lot of unnesassary work.
6. Disconnect themselves from the world. Part of being an engineer is having an appreciation of the world around us, and our extended design team members responsibilities. There are many opportunities during projects to be focused entirely on our input alone. Engineer's [good ones] are also reaching out and networking with their peers, collaborating and enhancing relationships. Clients see the benefit. Eventually.
7. Dilute the talent pool. Some engineers think that training the new wave of engineering graduates is like raising an army of loyal followers. No. The alledged watering down of our engineering talent is not because of a perceived lack of quality university or college education. It is because of our engineering ego, and self interest. Graduates must be taught to think independently, and find answers to their searching questions. Selfish engineers will inadvertently stand in a graduates way to learn and to grow. Some engineers believe that the best outcome for a graduates education is to end up like themselves. A slightly faded carbon copy of their mentor.

Today I will leave you with the reflections of an engineer, on engineering [worth a read!];

"The time spent in college is only a small fraction of the time that most engineers will spend in the workplace, but the habits they develop as students play a large role in whether engineers are effective, successful, and satisfied in their careers. Encouraged to think that communicating in acronyms, equations, and technical specifications is sufficient for an engineer, is no service to the engineer or to the profession.
How well or poorly engineers can communicate to a broader audience affects not only their effectiveness as engineers but also their profession’s standing in the larger community. "

Henry Petroski [Softening the Curriculum]

Engine[er]