Unmasking Engineering Management Superheroes
Posted October 23rd, 2019
In many cases, when engineering managers face challenges, the issues typically don’t focus on technical capabilities. Instead, interpersonal skills often play a bigger role in an engineering manager’s success, impacting their ability to guide their team and collaborate effectively with others.
If you want to become an engineering management superhero, here are some key skills you’ll need to master.
Communication
The ability to communicate effectively is critical for members of management. When it comes to your team, strong communication skills allow you to effectively outline your expectations and provide guidance or support when necessary. It ensures you can break down complex ideas into something easy to digest or in a way that highlights how an individual employee’s contribution makes an impact. Additionally, active listening is part of effective communication, guaranteeing that you hear what your workers share and respect their efforts during discussions.
Beyond your team, communication is still crucial for engineering managers. It allows you to communicate effectively with various stakeholders, including those who might not be as savvy about your area of expertise, to share vital information about projects, products, and more. Plus, it enables you to serve as a strong representative of your team, increasing the odds that you’ll be collectively viewed in the best light.
Collaboration
If you want to be an exceptional engineering manager, collaboration skills are essential. Great managers understand that they don’t know everything and they willing allow those with expertise beyond their own to contribute (or even take the reins) when the need arises.
Additionally, they work to provide value when contributing to other areas as well. They share their knowledge openly with their team as well as other leaders and departments, giving everyone a chance to get information that allows them to grow or excel.
Delegation
Newer engineering managers often struggle to put down their individual contributor hat. They believe that they are the best person for the job and often overburden themselves with tasks that should be given to their team.
By learning to delegate effectively, you create opportunities for your team to do what they do best. Not only will you be more efficient as a group, but morale typically improves as your employees will feel that you trust in their capabilities.
Plus, you’ll keep your workload under control. This ensures that you’ll have time to handle the duties that genuinely require your involvement.
Accountability
As a manager, the occasional misstep is guaranteed to occur. If you try to hide your errors, you might protect yourself in the short-term. However, long-term damage can be hard to manage.
By being accountable for your actions and owning up to your mistakes, you will garner respect from your team. They will know that you are willing to own up to your missteps and take action to ensure they are fixed properly.
Ultimately, all of the skill above are critical for engineering managers. If you’d like to learn more about how to excel in management, the team at Bayside Solutions can help. Contact us to speak with a member of our staff today and see how our management expertise can benefit you.
