You're leading an engineering team. How can you keep up with industry trends to guide them effectively?

Es necesario estar activos en eventos del contexto tecnológico en el que estamos dedicados para ver hacia donde están yendo las empresas de referencia y cuales son en general las tendencias del mercado. La innovación, el presupuesto para en determinado porcentaje poder experimentar con determinadas herramientas y ver posibles sinergias es clave para despegar en la mejora de los márgenes de beneficio de la organización. Que los ingenieros más experimentados y con especialización asistan a los eventos que consideren de interés es un beneficio a medio y largo plazo muy positivo.

Subscribe to industry-specific newsletters, podcasts, and YouTube channels that focus on the latest trends in engineering. Participate in webinars and online workshops to gain insights from experts. Join LinkedIn groups and Reddit communities where professionals discuss cutting-edge technologies and best practices.

Beyond attending events, engage in online and offline networking by joining professional organizations like IEEE or ASME. Participate in industry roundtables or panel discussions to exchange ideas with peers and thought leaders. Use platforms like LinkedIn to connect with experts and stay informed about the latest innovations.

Estar conectado a los profesionales del sector, a los que tienen la experiencia enfocada en el ámbito del desempe?o de los equipos es muy favorable. Como gestor de ingeniería debes de fomentar el networking para establecer buenas dinámicas, relaciones positivas y generar un valor intangible a la hora de vender tu conocimiento en determinadas áreas y especializaciones para los potenciales clientes finales.

In my view, to guide your engineering team effectively, "Network Actively" by engaging with industry professionals through conferences, webinars, and industry events. Join relevant professional organizations and forums to exchange insights and stay informed about emerging trends. Share valuable information with your team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation. By staying connected, you ensure your team remains at the forefront of industry advancements.

Create a mentoring program within your team where junior engineers research and present on emerging trends. Seek out mentors from other industries to gain fresh perspectives that might apply to your field. Encourage reverse mentoring, where younger team members teach you about new technologies and tools.

Utilizar activamente la mentoría de la propia organización y de los profesionales que nos cruzamos en redes sociales es muy provechoso, te darán visibilidad y te podrás dar a conocer al exponer tu conocimiento en determinada materia. Enfoca el tipo de contenidos y ábrete a exponerlos ya que tu especialización y la ventana de venta de las redes podrá disparar sinergias y futuros negocios.

Allocate a portion of your budget specifically for attending courses on emerging technologies. Encourage your team to pursue certifications in new programming languages, project management methodologies, or software tools. Promote a culture of learning by sharing knowledge gained from training sessions in team meetings.

Realiza propuestas en cuanto a formación para los equipos de ingeniería que gestionas, de tal forma que la dirección de la organización pueda disponer del presupuesto asignado suficiente para dar recorrido a tu propósito. Considera dos aspectos, por un lado da pie a tu equipo para proponer formación que les resulte interesante y les genere motivación y por otro lado, analiza bien las tendencias del mercado y propón de forma activa la realización de formaciones que generen un valor a?adido a corto y medio plazo.

Use tools like SWOT analysis to evaluate your competitors' strengths and weaknesses. Review their product releases, technical blogs, and patent filings to understand their approach to innovation. Regularly discuss these insights with your team to identify opportunities for differentiation and improvement.

En los eventos de tendencias del mercado, podrás relacionarte con compa?eros y con la competencia, analizar y ver en que coordenada se encuentran y compararlo con tu posición y relevancia para poder competir con otros proveedores. Entabla conversaciones abiertas y discute acerca de qué formaciones deberían de capacitar a los equipos de ingeniería para poder estar en la cresta de la ola.

Hold quarterly reflection sessions where the team can discuss what they've learned from recent projects and how it aligns with industry trends. Encourage team members to share articles, whitepapers, and case studies they've encountered. Use these sessions to refine your strategies and ensure they are in line with current industry standards.

Analyze past successes and challenges to identify trends and lessons learned. Incorporate this reflection into strategic planning and decision-making. Share these insights with your team to align their efforts with current industry standards and innovations. By continuously reflecting on and adapting to industry changes, you ensure your team remains agile and informed.

I like the continuous learning mindset. Within the engineering community, it meshes nicely with the fact that without constant learning your skills can become outdated. When you find bits of interesting activity, or evidence of new technology in the industry, with competitor units, or in ancillary industries, share that info with the team you lead. Let them consider and reflect on what they may mean in your industry, with your products, and what potential impact could be. Don't think you have to do all the work yourself and then bring the team a complete plan tied up in a bow. Engage them in the process of learning and evaluating. Let them talk with customers and sales team to learn about gaps and pain points. Gives best results!