4 Important Skills That Can Help Engineers Be Great Leaders of People

Engineers, programmers, and other technical gurus can become extraordinary leaders who inspire their people and lead engaged and collaborative teams.  Some of the best leaders I know have technical backgrounds. 

Here are 4 important skills that can help engineers be great leaders of people.

Manage yourself well first.

Great technical leaders develop an awareness of how they are feeling. Although this sounds “touchy feely” it is important data to have. Knowing how you are feeling leads to better leadership decisions. 

Coach people. Don’t Dictate.

Technical leaders need to engage their people by empowering and guiding them. Leaders who coach, ask questions rather than give answers. By doing this, their people learn, adapt, and get creative.

Harness and Leverage Conflict

Great technical leaders facilitate productive disagreements by creating safe environments for vetting ideas. They challenge ideas without assaulting individuals. 

Clearly articulate your vision.

Engineers are excellent at understanding all the details that make up their solution. Take this a step further by connecting data to the big picture without getting in the weeds.

I have a passion for leveraging my experience and expertise both in technology and leadership coaching to help technical leaders grow in their careers. Interested? Click here to schedule a leadership strategy call: https://lnkd.in/gzsdi7M