How can engineers transition from technical to business roles?

First of all, change your mind set from being the smartest guy in the room to the dumbest guy in the room; and what got you here won't take much further. Then learn everything about the business you are in, learn from other successful leaders, and learn about psychology. Remind you that your job is no longer to provding the most briliant technical solutions, instead your job is to provide the conditions/supports for others to create the technical solutions.

Einstein is rumoured to have said, "If I had one hour to save the world, I would spend 55 minutes defining it". If one of the brightest minds allows himself time to step back and really understand the problem, why do we think we can jump straight in at the deep end and be successful? Understanding the problem is the first and most important step. Personally, I love the principles of Design Thinking andd try to start major projects off with a workshop.

For me, the real trick is listening. It's about understanding their perspective and then tailoring your message to hit home.

Great communication comes from empathy. Listen and understand their wants and desires, then build an emotive story to support and bring people along with you. I successfully use the same (above) method for all stakeholders, people are people. The two differences are, i) the amount of time you have with the stakeholder, ii) the questions they will ask. Be prepared for both!

Business management is very energising, a sort of fountain of youth. "Anyone who keeps learning stays young" once said a great mentor. A successful transition from a technical referent to a business motor is about learning new skills, and refining old ones. In particular, honing one soft skills is key. Patient is also an important virtue, learning to wait for the opportune moment to generate the maximum impact. Many teachings can be gathered from online courses, influencers as well as from soliciting and accepting honest and candid feedback.

Collaboration is key to deliver on complex elements. This must happen both horizontally and vertically, up and down. It is not simply a coordination or cooperation effort. It is essential to appreciate collaborators' perspectives. In delivering, there are always elements of expectation management. In addition, everyone has a story to contribute to the tapestry. Businesses grow successfully on their diversity, where the many stories from different socio-economic backgrounds help defining the details of the challenges at hand, revealing many hidden dependencies, thus allowing for harmonious and robust solutions.

The world has become more complex than ever, multidisiplinary teams are required to solve complex problems. Diversity is the key, everyones unique perspective and skillset is an asset you should leverage.

Strategic thinking is an elevated state of mind. All engineers leverage strategic thinking even for the most menial task. As the responsibilities grow, so does the strategy complexity, implications and assumptions. To achieve a coherent business strategy, one must learn to practice higher level of assumption. In some ways, this could be seen as dithering, and in other ways, it takes time to form a full picture of the interconnected elements necessary to deliver an overall strategy. Thus far vision must be combined with intimate knowledge of details to fully appreciate the risks and leverage the business muscles to develop the desired outcome.

The value of networking. It's not just about who you know, but who knows you and what you bring to the table. Building a diverse network has opened doors and provided insights I wouldn't have found in my technical bubble. Remember, every conversation is a chance to learn and grow.

My transition from engineering to business was all about broadening my skill set and perspective. I dove into business fundamentals, sharpened my soft skills, and connected with business-minded professionals. Embracing roles that bridged technical and business aspects, I leveraged my analytical abilities while staying tuned to industry trends. It was a journey of continuous learning, adapting, and applying my engineering background in new, dynamic business contexts. This shift isn't just a career move; it's an exciting expansion of your professional landscape!