Episode Transcript
There are days when you wonder why you chose this profession. Engineering work can be intense and take a lot out of you.
You’re committed to solving problems, following through on projects, getting your team to be successful. It takes determination, doggedness and creativity.
You’re always looking to learn and improve yourself. To be productive and competitive. To get the job done on time and within budget.
And you’re looking for help and support to not only do your job well but to be your best self. To establish a career that enables you to fulfill your vision while making a contribution.
You wonder, for all you put in to being an engineer, do you get enough in return in your career?
How can you better balance what you put into your engineering career with what you get out of it?
There’s a clever answer to this question. And women engineers know it well.
The best way to get more out of your engineering career is to share what you already have.
It’s a way of giving and helping others. You’ve experienced it before in other contexts. Giving enables receiving. Helping others in turn is satisfying and fulfilling.
Turns out this is true in your engineering career too. And in my experience women are especially good at it.
What It Means to Incorporate Giving into Your Engineering Career
Anyone can incorporate giving into their work. It’s not complicated. And there are many ways to do it. Ways that don’t necessarily take you out of your way. Or require resources or authority.
- You can share your expertise, share lessons learned, share an insight or a best practice.
- You can help someone avoid a mistake you’ve made, help a new hire learn the ropes, help review a technical paper.
- You can give perspective, give encouragement, give compliments, give time on your calendar.
I reached a point in my career when I realized that I had more experience than most of my colleagues. It suddenly became clear that I was in a great position to help people.
But you don’t have to wait until you’re a senior employee. You have something to give at every increment of your experience.
For some people this sort of giving comes naturally. For me it takes more intention. But you can develop that mindset.
I know some women on the other end of the spectrum who give too much of themselves and their time.
Watch out for that. Because you don’t want to take away from your own career achievements. It should be a more synergistic approach.
Leveraging Your Talent of Giving in Your Engineering Work
The benefits of incorporating giving into your engineering work are just what you need for advancement. For example:
- Acts of giving hone skills for management, leadership and problem-solving.
- Reaching out to people broadens your network and strengthens relationships, which leads to more connections and opportunities.
- By reaching out to people you learn who has expertise and sway.
- By making more connections you get more creative in finding resources.
- Acts of giving strengthen your sense of belonging and you become more of an insider.
- As a giving and helping person you gradually gain more respect and trust.
It’s worth it to add in a few good turns to your work every week. Because by helping others reach their goals, you’re moving closer to your goals too.
At the same time your level of satisfaction and fulfillment rises because helping people feels good.
How to Help Others in Your Engineering Job This Week
I challenge you to give a little extra in your job this week. Keep it simple. Make it easy. Make it fun. Here are 5 examples to pick from. Or to get your own ideas flowing:
- Make an Offer of Mentorship – Offer to mentor someone on a specific task or project. It can be a longer term arrangement or a one-time gig. And you don’t have to limit it to someone with less experience than you.
- Teach the Ropes – Take someone under your wing who is new to the organization and working remotely. Offer to meet for coffee or lunch. Or set up a social call.
- Learn Together – Invite someone to join you on a project, task, or webinar that you’re planning to undertake, so you can learn it together.
- Help Build Networks – Make 3 introductions between people who can benefit from the connection. Or give time to someone who has been wanting to meet you or get on your calendar.
- Brainstorm Ideas – Offer to brainstorm with someone you know is solving a problem, planning an activity or making a decision. Share your perspectives and ideas for simplifying the process.
Understand that these activities are not distracting from your everyday tasks. They’re not preventing you from accomplishing your job or progressing in your career.
These are synergistic activities that combine with your work and result in a grander outcome for you and others.
This is the dance of giving and getting. And you can build this talent just like any other. It’s a great way to move farther and faster toward your vision.
It’s the secret to getting the most out of your engineering career.
Next time on Her Engineering Career Podcast, we’ll explore responsibility without authority. Some ways to lead effectively even if you’re not the boss. You won’t want to miss Episode 98.