How do you explain your civil engineering designs to stakeholders?

2 Use simple language

One of the biggest challenges of explaining your civil engineering designs to stakeholders is avoiding jargon and technical terms that may confuse or alienate them. Unless you are talking to another engineer who understands your field, you should use simple and plain language that anyone can follow. For example, instead of saying "the design uses a prestressed concrete beam with a composite steel deck", you could say "the design uses a strong and durable material that supports the weight of the building". You should also define any acronyms or abbreviations that you use, such as BIM (Building Information Modeling) or LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). By using simple language, you can make your design more accessible and understandable to your audience.

3 Use visuals and examples

Another way to explain your civil engineering designs to stakeholders is to use visuals and examples that illustrate your points and show your results. Visuals can include drawings, diagrams, charts, graphs, photos, videos, animations, or simulations that show how your design works, looks, or performs. Examples can include case studies, testimonials, or comparisons that show how your design solves a problem, meets a need, or adds value. For example, you could show a drawing of your design and explain how it reduces the environmental impact of the project. You could also show a video of a similar project that you completed and explain how it improved the safety and efficiency of the operation. By using visuals and examples, you can make your design more concrete and compelling to your audience.

4 Use storytelling and emotion

A third way to explain your civil engineering designs to stakeholders is to use storytelling and emotion to connect with them and persuade them. Storytelling is a powerful technique that helps you structure your presentation, capture attention, and create interest. You can use storytelling to show the context and background of your design, the challenges and opportunities that you faced, the solutions and alternatives that you considered, and the outcomes and benefits that you achieved. You can also use storytelling to show how your design affects the lives and experiences of the people who use it. Emotion is another powerful technique that helps you appeal to the values and feelings of your audience. You can use emotion to show how your design reflects your passion and creativity, how it addresses the pain points and aspirations of your stakeholders, and how it creates a positive impact and difference in the world. By using storytelling and emotion, you can make your design more memorable and meaningful to your audience.

5 Anticipate questions and feedback

The final way to explain your civil engineering designs to stakeholders is to anticipate questions and feedback that they may have and prepare your responses. Questions and feedback are inevitable and valuable parts of any presentation, as they show the interest and engagement of your audience, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of your design. You should welcome questions and feedback and answer them respectfully and confidently. You should also anticipate the most common or likely questions and feedback that you may receive and prepare your answers in advance. For example, you could anticipate questions about the cost, schedule, quality, or feasibility of your design and prepare your answers with supporting data and evidence. You could also anticipate feedback about the risks, limitations, or drawbacks of your design and prepare your answers with mitigation strategies and contingency plans. By anticipating questions and feedback, you can show your professionalism and credibility to your audience.

6 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?