Mr. Engineer, Check Your Comfort Zone at the Door

This last great recession changed a lot of things, for a lot of people. As a nation, we are arguably on the road to recovery. But make no mistake: things are different!

 

During the recession, companies were forced to do more with less. Fewer staff typically meant longer hours, and greater requirements imposed on the surviving workforce. Well, a funny thing happened along the way, companies found they could actually be quite profitable operating under those circumstances. 

Thanks to globalization, they could readily leverage automation, outsourcing and off shoring. They could effectively streamline every department, including engineering. The result: The 2011 - 2012 P&L sheets for most American corporations show historic profits. Companies now thrive on this operational model. What may have began as a matter of necessity is now the operational thought-process that drives most companies:

“How can we squeeze even more profit from our existing business? Our single greatest expense is our workforce --and we certainly don’t intend to return to previous staffing levels, so how can we get even more productivity from our existing personnel?”

The new reality for most engineers, you simply no longer have the luxury of being purely technical. Those skills are important, but perhaps not as unique or singular as in the past. In our global economy, raw technical competency becomes a commodity. That’s not to say you’re not uniquely talented in your field, but ask yourself, “Is it absolutely impossible that someone could bring a similar level of engineering expertise -- along with a fresh perspective to the task?” I think the honest answer is that none of us should feel that overwhelmingly confident.

I contend that now’s the time to realize your broader potential! It’s time to nurture and develop your communication, leadership and creativity skills. As such, it’s also time to go beyond your current comfort zone. I believe that most engineers are quite capable of being good to excellent presenters. As a group, it’s time to see what’s possible when we move the limits of stereotype and assumption.

Great presentation and public speaking capabilities can be honed like any other skill. No matter what level you’re starting from, all that’s really needed are individual effort and willingness. I know it’s possible, I seen it in my workshops, when participants invest the time and effort to develop their communication skills. I enjoy seeing engineers continually amaze themselves with their new levels of individual accomplishment and self-confidence.

The workplace has evolved, your turn! Invest in yourself. Find local resources such as Toastmasters International or any other structure that allows you to gradually build your confidence and capabilities. These are the attributes and skills that cannot be readily outsourced or off-shored. Develop your broader potential. Compliment your technical skill-set.

Consider that literally hundreds of thousands of engineers were laid-off over the last few years, and a lot of them desperately seek to return to the labor-force. Unfortunately, they probably don’t fully realize just how much employer’s expectations have changed. Just demonstrating the same technical-only skill-set as before, will not likely get them back in the door.

I am an engineer. I never advocate changing who you are or what makes us special.  My mantra is, “Don’t change who you are, expand all that you’re capable of.”

L. Eric Culverson,