Engineering managers don’t roll off assembly lines fully automated and ready for business. At least not yet they don’t.
Robot bosses may figure in the future but until then we’ll have to get by with humans and their morning demands for coffee, milk and two sugars.
But even human head honchos don’t have an automatic switch to go into management mode.
Some master the role quickly, others are thrown in at the deep end and flounder, but for most it involves skills that are learned and honed gradually.
If you’re considering one of the engineering management positions on s1jobs, from production or technical, operations to business development, recognising and building on the skills you already have is a must.
Here are some of the areas you might consider working on when changing up a gear.
Project management
Engineers have a head start here as typically you’re adept at seeing complex jobs through to completion. Stepping up to a manager level usually means overseeing more than one project at a time and this requires a cool head under pressure, good time management and being able to prioritise tasks effectively.
Good communications
Engineers more at home with maths or materials may find they need to work a bit harder on their people skills. Managing a diverse team can be challenging and you must be able to communicate objectives clearly and concisely to staff. Managers also need to speak a language clients understand too, not losing them in graphs, facts and figures.
Know your team
All good managers need to understand their staff – their strengths and weakness, motivations and personality types. Once you have a handle on this, you can take a systematic approach to managing them.
Delegation
Now you know your team’s strengths you can start delegating. This is not about shirking responsibility or dumping work on others but giving the right task to the right person. You’re not flying solo: you have a pool of talent to choose from.
Consistency
This is key. Employees with an inconsistent boss – yesterday it was that way up, today it’s this way up? – will soon lose confidence in their ability to lead. Develop good lines of communication and clear guidelines.
Vision
Engineers come with an eye for detail but those who can see the bigger picture will succeed as great managers. A boss can visualise the end product and the process of getting there.
Whether you’re just starting out or eyeing up promotion, visit s1jobs for all the latest Engineering and Technical vacancies.