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An engineer is grappling with a complex technical concept. How can you offer the support they need?

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Understanding complex technical concepts can be a daunting task for even the most seasoned engineer. It's a situation that requires not just intellectual rigor but also a supportive environment that fosters learning and growth. As an engineering manager, your role is pivotal in aiding your team members through these challenging intellectual endeavors. Providing the right support can make all the difference in transforming a complex problem into an opportunity for development and innovation. This article offers guidance on how to effectively support an engineer as they navigate through the intricacies of a difficult technical concept.

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Loki Benjere, CEng MIET MIEEE

Chartered Engineer|Technical Auditor| MSc. Communication Engineering, MCom. Strategic Management& Corporate Governance,…
Alfred Timothy Lotho

Engineering Manager

1 Listen First

When an engineer is struggling with a complex concept, the first step is to listen actively. Allow them to articulate the problem and their understanding of it. This process not only helps you grasp the specifics of the issue but also shows empathy, which can be incredibly reassuring. It's important to validate their efforts and acknowledge the difficulty of the task at hand without jumping to conclusions or immediately offering solutions. By listening, you create a collaborative atmosphere where the engineer feels supported and more open to guidance.

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Loki Benjere, CEng MIET MIEEE

Chartered Engineer|Technical Auditor| MSc. Communication Engineering, MCom. Strategic Management& Corporate Governance, BSc Telecoms Eng, BSc Applied Business Management
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The key to this scenario is PATIENCE! Be patient with them To gain a deeper understanding of the particular subject they are having trouble with and the circumstances surrounding it, ask clarifying questions. Provide relatable examples and analogies to make the idea easier to understand Give a high-level summary of the subject and use straightforward language to illustrate its main concepts. Go step-by-step through example exercises or problems to show how to put the idea into reality. Ask the engineer to repeat the idea in their own words. This may highlight knowledge gaps in them, which I may then fill in.

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Ivan Ivanyan

Experienced Tech Leader | Building Scalable Software & High-Performing Teams
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Supporting an engineer grappling with a complex technical concept requires a thoughtful approach. Start by breaking down the concept into manageable parts and explain it in simpler terms. Use analogies and visual aids to illustrate the ideas. Encourage questions and foster a collaborative environment where team members can share their insights. Provide access to resources such as documentation, tutorials, or mentorship opportunities. Regularly check in on their progress and offer constructive feedback. This method not only clarifies the concept but also builds confidence and promotes continuous learning.

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2 Clarify Goals

Once you've understood the challenge, help the engineer clarify their goals. What is the desired outcome? Breaking down the larger problem into manageable objectives can make the concept less intimidating. Encourage them to define short-term milestones that lead up to the overall goal. This approach not only provides direction but also allows for a sense of progress as each milestone is achieved, which can be a great motivational boost during a complex project.

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3 Resource Allocation

As an engineering manager, one of your key responsibilities is ensuring your team has access to the necessary resources. This might mean providing additional training, assigning more personnel to help, or acquiring specialized tools. Assess what resources are needed to tackle the complex concept effectively and make them available. Remember, investing in the right resources now can save time and reduce frustration in the long run.

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4 Encourage Collaboration

Encourage the engineer to collaborate with others. A fresh perspective can often illuminate aspects of a problem that one might not see alone. Promote an environment where knowledge sharing is the norm and where seeking input is viewed as a strength, not a weakness. Collaboration can lead to innovative solutions and is also an excellent way for the engineer to learn different approaches to problem-solving.

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Alfred Timothy Lotho

Engineering Manager
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When working with a difficult concept, it is crucial to look at things from different perspectives. You can support your member by helping them setup discussions with peers from a different area of expertise or asking curious questions. Sometimes, it may also just being a rubber ducky or finding the right rubber ducky for them. I remember connecting an engineer before with a member of the product team as they were having problems with traffic routing and networks with our cloud provider. While my teammate was discussing with the product manager, they were explaining it in a non-technical way as much as possible. Because of this, they realized that was missing in their understanding was the concept of a network adapter for the container.

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5 Foster Learning

Encourage a learning mindset. When faced with a complex concept, there's often a steep learning curve involved. Remind the engineer that it's okay not to have all the answers and that grappling with difficult problems is how one grows professionally. Provide opportunities for formal or informal learning and encourage reflective practices like journaling or peer discussions that can solidify new knowledge.

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6 Adapt Strategies

Finally, be prepared to adapt your support strategies as needed. Each engineer has their own learning style and what works for one might not work for another. Be flexible and open to trying different approaches until you find what best helps the engineer in question. Regular check-ins can help assess whether the current strategy is effective or if adjustments are needed.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Quentin Rawls

Experienced Technical Program/Project Manager | Software Engineer | Passionate About Problem Solving | Skilled in Crafting Solutions
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As a coach, you begin by calming any anxiety or frustration the engineer may have built up so he or she can think clearly and logically when problem solving. Next, actively listen to the engineers approach, steps, and ideas to solving the problem. Afterwards you can analyze the problem domain yourself to understand the situation or system architecture where the complex problem resides. Furthermore, you can advise on applying "Systems Thinking", which is accounting for the entire system and its individual components. From here, the engineer can break down the complexity into smaller manageable parts for clarity and take an experimental and testing approach to solving the issue. This provides feedback from cause-and-effect.

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An engineer is grappling with a complex technical concept. How can you offer the support they need?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Listen First

2 Clarify Goals

3 Resource Allocation

4 Encourage Collaboration

5 Foster Learning

6 Adapt Strategies

7 Here’s what else to consider

Engineering Management

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An engineer is grappling with a complex technical concept. How can you offer the support they need?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Listen First

2 Clarify Goals

3 Resource Allocation

4 Encourage Collaboration

5 Foster Learning

6 Adapt Strategies

7 Here’s what else to consider

Engineering Management

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