Everybody has their 2 cents on how to navigate the professional world. This article shares a few pieces of advice that I've received that I consider excellent!
"The tool that you don't use grows dull." - This is one of my favorites. As engineers, we are trained in highly technical subject matter. We learn to use complicated software and design skills to make incredible things happen. Unfortunately, when promoted into management positions it can be easy to lose sight of the more technical aspects of our jobs. Engineering is a profession, more than just a job, and the knowledge of that profession can be rewarding in its own right. If you're like me, you don't want to lose that knowledge.
How do you apply this advice? Become a lifelong learner. If you do that, you will be able to maintain your technical knowledge and stay ahead of the times. Just like it takes effort to learn new things, it takes effort to keep that knowledge from being forgotten.
"Visualize yourself as the expert. What would you do?" - This is a newer piece of advice that I heard, but it immediately stuck with me! How do you tackle a really hard problem? Particularly if you're early on in your career?
Basically, just imagine yourself as the expert! How would a more experienced engineer you know tackle the problem? Where would they get started? What kinds of questions would they ask? I think the beauty of this advice is that it seems obvious, but rarely do we actually take the time to step outside of our own frame of reference and try to view a problem completely from somebody else's position.
How do you apply this advice? Easy-next time you come across a challenge, visualize the most accomplished, strategic engineer you know and envision what they would do. Maybe you can emulate their behavior, or maybe it just gives you a starting point for your own approach.
"Chase great teams, not great projects." - This is one that most people learn the hard way (myself included). Essentially, the idea is that good things come from great people working together, not from a "great" project. It's easy to fall in love with a cool project idea, but challenges with teammates, schedules, clients, and more can quickly turn a "great" project into a nightmare.
However, if you focus on working with great teams, this problem almost never occurs. A mundane project built with great people will lead to real success. Schedules will be met, budgets will be beat, and quality will abound. You'll have more fun and you'll grow more than you would have otherwise. With a great team, ANY project can be great.
How do you apply this advice? Next time you come to a crossroads in your career, with the option to do something new, ask yourself if you are choosing a great team or a great project? Sometimes the answer isn't clear, but when you can tell it will help immensely.
These are just a few of my favorites. What advice would you give yourself?
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