6 Steps Every Aspiring Engineering Leader Should Take
When I embarked on my engineering career, progression into engineering leadership wasn't nestled atop my priorities. My aspirations were firmly anchored in something more existential. I wanted to create things. Cars, to be precise. Cars that elevated safety and curbed the inevitable spectre of harm. Cars that mitigated environmental calamities whilst being a joy to drive. As a starry-eyed ideator, I wanted to inject some of my inventiveness into the world, to change it even in some small way. But the youthful zeal and naivete quickly segued into the realisation that to make a real impact would demand more than ingenuity and enthusiasm; it would demand leadership.
To mobilise my career trajectory into management, I needed a well-thought-out strategy.
Decoding the cryptic paradigm of evolving from engineer to engineering leader requires a diligent and disciplined approach. Promotion may happen incidentally, but it’s not something that happens automatically. Intentional commitment to assembling the necessary skills and evidence is what it takes to be ready when opportunity knocks.
Below are six steps that any aspiring engineering leader considers foundational towards fostering leadership prowess.
1. Cultivate Soft Skills
Effective engineering management goes beyond technical competence; communication, teamwork, conflict resolution, problem-solving, and critical thinking are crucial for success. Of the top 6 skills HBS cite as forming a capital contribution towards engineering career success, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking are among the most important. Self-awareness is crucial in identifying weaknesses and committing to deliberate practice for improvement.
To improve communication skills, focus on active listening, clear expression, and empathy. For better teamwork, build trust, embrace diversity, and foster collaboration. To enhance conflict resolution skills, take a self-controlled pause, recognise different perspectives, identify shared goals, and negotiate win-win outcomes. These strategies can improve interpersonal interactions and lead to more tremendous success in personal and professional life.
Problem-solving and critical thinking skills can be honed through analysing data, identifying patterns, and generating creative solutions.
2. Outline your goals and purposefully define your path
Do not wait for fortune to find you. There are multiple routes to a successful engineering career - yours will be unique.
Engineering leadership tracks fall into two distinct routes. Those whose leadership contribution involves progressively more technical depth - complex projects, systems integration, and technical management. Then, those whose leadership contribution involves progressively more strategic breadth and the people around them - program management, business development, and organisational change. Both types of engineering leadership positions are valuable, but each requires different skills and experiences to succeed.
Forbes contributor Artavard Yeritsyan writes about how they've created documented career progression tracks that cater towards each type of engineering leader at PicsArt. Asking your employer about their expectations for upward mobility can help you better understand what they expect from engineering leaders.
3. Go Back to School
Education is an indispensable investment for aspiring engineering leaders. Advanced degrees like a PhD or MBA can help you develop your leadership skills, expand your knowledge, and become a more well-rounded professional. However, it's important to remember that not all employers prioritise formal education.
While advanced degrees can help you stand out, they can also be costly for you or your employer if they're so inclined. It's crucial to weigh the potential benefits against the costs and determine whether it aligns with your career goals.
It's possible to succeed through practical experience, online learning, networking, and professional development programmes. Whatever approach you choose, ensuring that it aligns with your employer's expectations and is relevant to your career goals is essential.
The University of Leeds has a handy guide to the different academic routes into engineering management here if education is for you.
4. Think like a business owner - develop a business mindset
Technical experts and creatives tend to measure success based on the quality of their work, but leaders must also be able to measure success in commercial metrics. Garner an understanding of broader business objectives. Strive to comprehend the impact of your proposed solutions on different stakeholders and business metrics. A good starting point is to learn the principles of project management and finance from reputable sources like the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
5. Prepare to relinquish control
There's a misconception that leadership is about being in control. It's not. You need to be able to relinquish control over your project, team and work. As a technical expert, you're probably used to completely controlling everything that happens on your projects. So, when you first take on leadership roles, it can feel like you're constantly wrestling with the unknown, and the temptation to micromanage is intoxicating.
The role of a leader is to create the material conditions for people to succeed, build mutual trust and empower a team to make their own decisions. This means that you'll need to learn how to let go and allow your team the space they need so they can do their job effectively. If they do, you will have done your job correctly.
6. Request guidance
Successful engineers transitioning into management roles must be open to seeking guidance. You can significantly benefit from receiving coaching from experienced managers to enhance your interpersonal skills and effectively address team-related challenges. Exploring all available resources is vital to develop your ability to lead teams and manage people.
The art of successful mentorship can be instrumental in honing the skills and abilities of a manager. Whether you ask your employer to provide you with a mentor or seek one out on your own, the guidance and support of an experienced engineering leader can be invaluable in your efforts to transition into a management role.
A good mentor can offer unique insights, share practical wisdom, and act as a sounding board as you navigate the challenges and prospects of leadership.
Did you know that Craggs Engineering offers formal mentorship programmes? Discuss with your employers whether formal guidance from experienced engineering leaders would inspire you and your team and assist them with their engineering learning and development strategy. We're always available to discuss how mentorship from experienced engineering leaders could benefit your career or help you pitch mentorship opportunities to your employer. Book a free consultation.