Welcome to the Impactful Engineering newsletter, where you’ll gain access to actionable tips, strategies, and the mindset for an exceptional career. Every newsletter you will learn a new skill, key mindset, or overall perspective that will empower you to reach your goals and increase your impact.

Intentional Emotional Investment Into Your Work

What you will learn!

What: Understanding and embracing emotional balance

How: Strategies to master and focus your passion for engineering

Recap: Embracing Concise Communication

Why did you become an engineer? Was it driven by your desire to see your designs materialize and to take pride in the accomplishment of seeing it in the real world? Have you noticed a surprising level of emotional attachment to your work? Many of us do!

Is this healthy? Is it detrimental to our careers? Or does it make us better at what we do? Does it depend on where we direct our passion and pride? We must take a pause to reflect on these questions to ensure maximum career fulfillment in our contributions as an Impactful Engineer!

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What: Understanding and embracing emotional balance

In this newsletter, we address the challenge of emotional attachment to your work and the impacts it can have on your career. We discuss the detrimental effects of being overly emotionally invested in your work, such as becoming defensive, resistant to input, or developing a "know-it-all" attitude. The core issue is about where you, as an engineer, should allocate your emotional investment in your work.

Don’t misunderstand, it is incredibly important to have the desire to deliver the best project you can to your customer. Be it a product to an end-user or a service to a contractor. What this newsletter will touch on is the level of attachment to a project that you become unwilling to accept an alternate solution as superior.

So how can you prevent or correct this?

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How: Strategies to master and focus your passion for engineering

Your initial directive is to become aware if your emotional attachment is becoming unhealthy and has had negative ramifications. This is where you must seek feedback and respond with intentional corrective action.

Your next strategy is to assess where you can channel your passion in a more constructive way by shifting your focus from being emotionally attached to the end product to being invested in the process and the overall team’s results.

Embrace open feedback and communication throughout the duration of the project. Take a more subjective approach to the end result. This way, you can find a balanced approach to accomplishing the team’s goals, instead of needing to be right all the time.

Following these guidelines will foster your growth mindset, transitioning away from a limiting fixed mindset, and ultimately positioning yourself to become an Impactful Engineer.

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Practical Idea: Solicit and Act on Feedback

Example 👇

Feedback is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, yet many engineers hesitate to seek it out or struggle to act on it effectively. However, soliciting feedback from colleagues, supervisors, and stakeholders can provide valuable insights into areas for improvement and opportunities for development. By actively seeking and acting on feedback, engineers can accelerate their learning, enhance their performance, and strengthen relationships within their teams.
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How to approach 👇

To integrate feedback into your professional practice, start by creating a culture of open communication within your team or organization. Regularly request feedback from colleagues and supervisors on your work, focusing on specific areas where you seek improvement. You can do this in casual conversation or dedicated one on one sessions, but it is important to do them in person. A great way to kick these conversations off is to ask what is working well and where can you improve.

Actively listen to the feedback you receive, acknowledging both strengths and areas for growth without becoming defensive. Identify actionable steps based on the feedback to implement changes or improvements in your work practices. As you become comfortable with this process by repeating it over the course of your career, you will also learn what useful feedback is. Not all feedback is the same. Some of it is not useful. But if you receive and act on zero feedback, being defensive every time, you’ll never know what could have been useful.

By continuously soliciting and acting on feedback, you'll demonstrate a commitment to growth and improvement, ultimately enhancing your performance as an engineer.

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Practical Idea: Shift Focus from Outcome to Process

Example 👇

Many engineers become emotionally attached to the outcome of their projects. However, focusing solely on the end result can hinder collaboration and personal growth. Shifting your focus from the outcome to the process allows you to appreciate the effort and passion put into your work, leading to greater satisfaction and resilience in the face of challenges.

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How to approach 👇

To implement this idea, start by consciously redirecting your attention from the final product to the steps involved in achieving it. Embrace each stage of the process, from planning and design to execution and evaluation. Set small, achievable goals along the way and celebrate milestones reached. Additionally, actively seek feedback from colleagues and stakeholders throughout the process, and be open to making adjustments based on their input. This can be done in design or project gate review meetings, brainstorm sessions, or even over lunch when discussing project strategies. By valuing the journey as much as the destination, you'll not only improve your performance but also cultivate a more positive and collaborative work environment.

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Practical Idea: Embrace Collective Results Over Individual Contributions

Example 👇

While individual pride in one's work is natural, becoming overly attached to personal achievements can lead to negative dynamics within a team. Instead of solely focusing on individual success, engineers should prioritize collective results and team synergy. By aligning personal goals with the team's objectives, engineers can foster a collaborative environment where everyone's contributions are valued and celebrated.

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How to approach 👇

To put this idea into practice, start by regularly communicating with your team members to understand the broader project goals and how your role contributes to them. Actively seek opportunities to collaborate and support your colleagues, whether through sharing knowledge, offering assistance, or providing constructive feedback. Celebrate team achievements and recognize the contributions of each member, fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. By embracing the collective success of the team, you'll not only enhance your own performance but also contribute to a more cohesive and high-performing work environment.
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Practical Idea: Develop Adaptive Communication Skills

Example 👇

Effective communication is essential for successful collaboration in engineering teams. However, individuals may struggle with communication styles that hinder teamwork, such as defensiveness or overly assertive behavior. Developing adaptive communication skills allows engineers to tailor their approach to different team members and situations, promoting better understanding and cooperation.

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How to approach 👇

To enhance your communication skills, start by becoming more self-aware of your own communication tendencies and how they may impact others. Practice active listening and empathy, seeking to understand perspectives different from your own. Experiment with adapting your communication style to better resonate with diverse personalities and preferences within your team. Additionally, prioritize clarity and transparency in your communication, ensuring that information is conveyed effectively and understood by all stakeholders. By continuously refining your communication skills, you'll contribute to a more harmonious and productive work environment.

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Practical Idea: Foster a Growth Mindset Through Reflective Practice

Example 👇

To create continuous learning and improvement in engineering, you must shift to a growth mindset. However, it’s common to struggle to adopt this mindset due to fear of failure or fixed beliefs about their abilities. Reflective practice offers a valuable tool for transitioning to a growth mindset, allowing you to learn from both successes and setbacks and adapt your approach accordingly.

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How to approach 👇

To cultivate a growth mindset through reflective practice, set aside time regularly to reflect on your experiences and actions as an engineer. Consider both your achievements and challenges, identifying lessons learned and areas for growth. Ask yourself probing questions, such as "What worked well in this project, and why?" and "What could I have done differently to achieve better results?" Embrace failure as an opportunity for learning and growth, reframing setbacks as valuable experiences rather than insurmountable obstacles. By adopting a mindset of continuous improvement and self-reflection, you'll empower yourself to become a more resilient, adaptable, and impactful engineer.

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Recap: Going forward

By shifting focus from outcomes to processes, embracing collective results, soliciting and acting on feedback, developing adaptive communication skills, and fostering a growth mindset through reflective practice, you will elevate your contributions to the team and organization.

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Seize the opportunity to implement these practical ideas and embrace the challenge of becoming an impactful engineer who not only excels in technical proficiency but also demonstrates leadership, adaptability, and a commitment to excellence in all aspects of your work. Together, let's strive to make a positive difference in the world through our contributions as engineers.

The Impactful Engineering Project's purpose is to bring awareness, access, success, and mentorship to all new and aspiring engineers. But it doesn't stop there. What we talk about on this podcast applies to seasoned engineers as well.

The community that will be built from this project has the potential to change the lives of everyone who is a part of it. We sincerely hope to reach and help as many people as possible. Your participation will bring the project to life.

Podcast Episode 35: Where To Apply Your Passion