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.

Tapping into Talent. Building Trust

"When you ask people what it is like being part of a great team, what is most striking is the meaningfulness of the experience. People talk about being part of something larger than themselves, of being connected, of being generative. It becomes quite clear that, for many, their experiences as part of truly great teams stand out as singular periods of life lived to the fullest." - Peter Senge

My thoughts on our extended engineering fraternity up until recently was one of considerable confusion. Finite amounts of construction developments meant that those of us who didn't find enough projects to keep us busy, were destined to have hard times. Conversely those of us who have found the time and energy to engage the interest of developers, or Architects have found more than their fair share. This is the situation which I see before me.

Those 'without' suffer by not having enough work, and those 'with', suffer from exhaustion or by disappointing their clients.

In addition to the problems above, comes the time spent trying to finely tune and 'tee up' a healthy vein of work for the future, leading to further waste. So why not take a leap into the unknown, and share?

Indeed. To that end I have launched a group on LinkedIn to allow free communication between engineers so that we can redistribute our work loads - as and when we need. As the group grows, the future promises that this community will become an essential route to reliable engineering resources with the opportunity to share business ideas and 'time' with one another. Building trust.

To add another dimension, we will also consider allowing a number of supportive non-engineering construction professionals [i.e. Architects, contractors, QS's, business advisers] to contribute to maintaining a productive and lively group, for all it's members.

Every business has its own plans for the future. Some of us would like to remain small and work as sole traders, giving our clients value by keeping overheads low. Well, you can! I personally would also love to be part of something BIG, yet retain some of my independence and reserve my option to take on work as I see fit.

I also have a dream of introducing graduates into collaborative groups. Seating them at the heart of a incredibly confident and experienced localised team of engineers. Thus giving them a wonderful springboard into their professional career, and giving Engineers a solid opportunity to mentor the next generation of talent.

If you are an Engineer, and this idea appeals to you, then drop us an email or hunt out our brand new group on LinkedIn - The Collaborative Engineering Community

Tapping into Talent. Building Trust.


Engine[er]