Question

Communication skills for engineers lecture .

Answer 1

5 ways for engineers to improve their communication skills

By Stephen Harris 25th March 2015 5:41 pm

Whether you’re applying for a job or conducting a public meeting, communication is a vital tool for engineers to master. Here’s how you can get started.

Don’t believe the stereotype: professional engineers aren’t shut away in workshops and labs. They’re at the heart of engineering firms and need to be excellent communicators to make sure their colleagues, customers and sometimes the public understand the importance of their work.

Earlier this week I judged the London regional final of the Institution of Civil Engineers’ annual Communications Competition, which puts students and recent graduates through the potential trauma of a mock public consultation.

Not only did the entrants have to come up with viable plans for a civil engineering scheme, they had to persuade the audience it was the right thing to do. And true to life, there was even a rowdy heckler shouting objections (in the form of one of last year’s winners).

Here’s a round up of the advice the judges gave the competitors based on the good and the not-so-good performances we saw.



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5 ways for engineers to improve their communication skills

By Stephen Harris 25th March 2015 5:41 pm

Whether you’re applying for a job or conducting a public meeting, communication is a vital tool for engineers to master. Here’s how you can get started.

Don’t believe the stereotype: professional engineers aren’t shut away in workshops and labs. They’re at the heart of engineering firms and need to be excellent communicators to make sure their colleagues, customers and sometimes the public understand the importance of their work.

Earlier this week I judged the London regional final of the Institution of Civil Engineers’ annual Communications Competition, which puts students and recent graduates through the potential trauma of a mock public consultation.

Not only did the entrants have to come up with viable plans for a civil engineering scheme, they had to persuade the audience it was the right thing to do. And true to life, there was even a rowdy heckler shouting objections (in the form of one of last year’s winners).

Here’s a round up of the advice the judges gave the competitors based on the good and the not-so-good performances we saw.

People need to know who you are before they can trust you.

1. Make a good introduction

Before you can persuade anyone of anything, they need to know who you are and why they should listen to you. If you’re addressing a public meeting you should set out your role and credentials and those of your organisation. That will help build trust with your audience and give them a reason to take you seriously.

Similarly if you’re writing a job application letter, you should start by summarising your relevant education and experience. The recruiter will then know you fulfil the basic criteria and it’s worth their time reading the rest of your letter.

2. Balance detail with clarity

The only thing worse than listening to someone when you’ve no idea what they’re talking about is listening to them ramble on about nothing at all. The key to avoiding either of these scenarios is working out (or making a good guess) what the people you’re speaking to already know and what they will want to know.

If there’s a risk they’re unfamiliar with technical details and jargon then keep it simple at first – you can always add more detail in later. And if you do mention terms or concepts they may not have encountered before then make sure you explain them in clear language.

Equally, don’t skip over detail in favour of broad, bland statements full of meaningless marketing speak. (Avoiding any words or clichés you hear frequently on TV shows like The Apprentice is a good start.) Make specific points and back them up or illustrate them with examples while always trying to relate what you’re saying back to the point of view of the listener.