New Skills for EngineersNew Skills for EngineersIEEE-USA 2000 Career s ConferenceIEEE-USA 2000 Career s Conference

Jim Britt - IEEE Senior MemberJim Britt - IEEE Senior Member

16 Ellsworth Road16 Ellsworth Road

Peabody, MA 01960-5307Peabody, MA 01960-5307

j.britt@ieee.orgj.britt@ieee.org

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 2

Skills - OverviewSkills - Overview

Today’s EnvironmentToday’s Environment

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 3

Skills - OverviewSkills - Overview

Today’s EnvironmentToday’s Environment

Skills - Typical / NewSkills - Typical / New

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 4

Skills - OverviewSkills - Overview

Today’s EnvironmentToday’s Environment

Skills - Typical / NewSkills - Typical / New

BenefitsBenefits

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 5

Skills - OverviewSkills - Overview

Today’s EnvironmentToday’s Environment

Skills - Typical / NewSkills - Typical / New

BenefitsBenefits

Building SkillsBuilding Skills

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 6

Today’s EnvironmentToday’s Environment

Faster pace for changeFaster pace for change• Increased StressIncreased Stress

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 7

Today’s EnvironmentToday’s Environment

Faster pace for changeFaster pace for change• Increased StressIncreased Stress

Less hierarchyLess hierarchy• More Self DirectionMore Self Direction

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 8

Today’s EnvironmentToday’s Environment

Faster pace for changeFaster pace for change• Increased StressIncreased Stress

Less hierarchyLess hierarchy• More Self DirectionMore Self Direction

Improved productivityImproved productivity• TeamworkTeamwork

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 9

Today’s EnvironmentToday’s Environment

Faster pace for changeFaster pace for change• Increased StressIncreased Stress

Less hierarchyLess hierarchy• More Self DirectionMore Self Direction

Improved productivityImproved productivity• TeamworkTeamwork

Low unemployment Low unemployment

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 10

Engineers’ Skills - TypicalEngineers’ Skills - Typical

Technical KnowledgeTechnical Knowledge• Specific / GeneralSpecific / General

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 11

Engineers’ Skills - TypicalEngineers’ Skills - Typical

Technical KnowledgeTechnical Knowledge• Specific / GeneralSpecific / General

Computer SkillsComputer Skills• HardwareHardware

– Use / DesignUse / Design• SoftwareSoftware

– User / DeveloperUser / Developer

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 12

Engineers’ New SkillsEngineers’ New Skills

Emotional IntelligenceEmotional Intelligence

• Enthusiasm / OptimismEnthusiasm / Optimism

• Management SkillsManagement Skills

• Self -awarenessSelf -awareness

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 13

Engineers’ New Skills - Engineers’ New Skills - Con’tCon’t

EmpathyEmpathy

Managing your emotions - effectivelyManaging your emotions - effectively

PersuasionPersuasion

TeamworkTeamwork

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 14

LeadershipLeadership

Managing relationshipsManaging relationships

• Daniel Goldman Daniel Goldman Emotional IntelligenceEmotional Intelligence, New York: Bantam Books, New York: Bantam Books

Engineers’ New Skills - Engineers’ New Skills - con’tcon’t

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 15

CircumstancesCircumstances

Many hatsMany hats• Project LeaderProject Leader• Individual ContributorIndividual Contributor• Problem SolversProblem Solvers• Knowledge workersKnowledge workers• MentorMentor• MotivatorMotivator

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 16

BenefitsBenefits

Improved communicationImproved communication

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 17

BenefitsBenefits

Improved communicationImproved communication

Productivity increasesProductivity increases

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 18

BenefitsBenefits

Improved communicationImproved communication

Productivity increasesProductivity increases

““Real” teamwork Real” teamwork

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 19

BenefitsBenefits

Improved communicationImproved communication

Productivity increasesProductivity increases

““Real” teamwork Real” teamwork

Improved retentionImproved retention

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 20

Building EQ SkillsBuilding EQ Skills

Mentoring ProgramsMentoring Programs

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 21

Building EQ SkillsBuilding EQ Skills

Mentoring ProgramsMentoring Programs

Coaching ProgramsCoaching Programs

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 22

Building EQ SkillsBuilding EQ Skills

Mentoring ProgramsMentoring Programs

Coaching ProgramsCoaching Programs

External ResourcesExternal Resources• College contactsCollege contacts• IEEE contactsIEEE contacts

Jim Britt- j.britt@ieee.org 23

SummarySummary

People skills People skills • More importantMore important

– Increased uncertaintyIncreased uncertainty– Increased stressIncreased stress

• Benefit both partiesBenefit both parties– IndividualIndividual– CompanyCompany