Speak to Lead: Acing Corporate Meetings in Engineering?Careers

Effective communication is not merely relaying information, it's the vital bridge that connects engineering brilliance with stakeholder and team understanding, shaping the future of innovation.

With over 15 years of engineering expertise and 3+ years of coaching experience, a major challenge I often witnessed among engineers and technical professionals is effective communication.

?Communication proficiency is not solely about language, it encompasses various facets, including your presence, both verbal and non-verbal cues.

?Do you know the role body language plays in communication?

>>> Studies show that it contributes to 55% of all communication.

>>> The remaining 38% of communication meaning involves tonality, voice, intonation, body movements, and hand gestures.

>>> Only 7% of what people understand from a message with mixed-up information comes from the actual words used by the speaker.

• Body language?(and facial expression) -? 55%,
• Tonality - 38%.
• Verbal??? - 7%

>>> In the fast-paced world of engineering and technology, effective communication is the linchpin to success.

>>> Engineers find it hard to explain tricky big ideas to both the people they work with and those they are working for. It's really important because it helps make new and better things happen in projects.

>>> Recent statistics shows that 86% of stakeholder convey that the main reasons things go wrong at the workplace are because people don't communicate properly and it leads to misalignment of work.

>>> But, when teams communicate properly, they can get a whole 25% more work done.

Effective communication can benefit stakeholders and Teams in

• Productivity
• Engagement
• Retention, and?Trust.

You would be surprised to hear what happens with bad communication among teams and bosses. A new report on communication stats in 2023 shows the consequences of poor communication:

• 68% said time is wasted,
• 53% miss messages,
• 42% feel burnout, stress, and tiredness,
• 35% lose files,
• 30% cause bad customer experience,
• 12% lose customers to other companies,
• 10% lose employees.

Overall, Poor communication effects in 3 major areas at work,

• Burnout leads to less work done,
• Failing at work, and
• Money problems for companies.

If you're an engineer or technical professional, how do you work on effective communication?

Here are some strategies that will be helpful for you to tailor your communication in your corporate meetings.

Understanding Stakeholder Needs:

Successful communication commences by understanding diverse stakeholder needs and expectations. It's crucial to grasp their perspectives, concerns, and ultimate goals.

Engineers often face problems when explaining tricky ideas to people they work with and they work for at various stages of projects. These issues need attention and fixing.

Highlighting What People Like : Finding out how the people you work with prefer to talk and understand things is super important. It helps everyone understand each other better.

Having information on how mistakes in talking or not explaining things well affect projects and new ideas in real time can show just how much good and clear communication matters.

Clarity in Vision and Strategy:

A really clear idea of what needs to be done is like a map showing where to go and why in an engineering project. It explains the main goal, why the project exists, and what’s supposed to happen in the end

Explaining this plan well to everyone involved makes sure that everyone gets it and agrees on what needs to be done. This stops confusion or different ideas about what's going on.

Let's take a tech company that wanted to make better batteries for electric cars. They had a vision to create a long-lasting, cheap battery. Their plan included research, working with experts, and testing things a lot.

This project succeeded because they shared their vision and strategy clearly. This made everyone work together well. It shows that a clear plan and vision make teams enthusiastic and work better together.

But if a vision or plan is not clear, projects might fail or people might not understand what to do. Learning from these cases helps to see the need for a strong and clear plan linked to a good vision.

Effective Tailoring of Communication Styles:

>>> Adapting your communication to fit different people is vital to ensure they understand and engage with your message. Simplifying complex ideas without losing their essence is a valuable skill employed by successful professionals.

Engineers place great emphasis on tailoring how they communicate benefits to various audiences. While technical experts appreciate detailed engineering specifics, business stakeholders prioritize aspects like cost savings or market advantages.

?>>> The choice of communication method also holds significance. Engineers may prepare comprehensive reports for technical teams and deliver concise yet engaging presentations for executives, aiming to ensure everyone comprehends the information effectively.

Developing strong relationships and trust with stakeholders significantly influences how your messages are received and understood.

>>> Maintaining consistency in key messages across varied communication styles ensures a unified understanding, even as the delivery style may change.

?Learning from both successful and unsuccessful instances of adjusting communication styles is crucial. Accomplished engineers highlight situations where adapting communication positively impacted outcomes and where a lack of adaptation resulted in confusion or missed opportunities.

Utilizing Visual Aids and Technology:

>>> Visual aids, such as charts, graphs, infographics, and presentations, complement verbal explanations significantly. For engineers dealing with complex technical concepts, these aids provide a tangible, visual representation that leads to better stakeholder understanding.

Recent statistics reveal the profound impact of visual aids in presentations and meetings, showing increased information retention rates when visuals are incorporated, enhancing the efficacy of communication.

>>> Advanced technology, such as 3D modelling, VR simulations, or interactive digital platforms, enhances stakeholder engagement, making it easier for them to grasp intricate engineering ideas.

Visual aids not only make things visually appealing but simplify complex data. Engineers discuss transforming intricate data sets into easily digestible visuals, aiding stakeholders in understanding without delving into technical complexities.

?>>> With the rise of remote work and virtual meetings, insights into the effective use of visual aids and technology in online communication are crucial.

Engineers share experiences using screen-sharing tools, interactive virtual whiteboards, and other digital aids to ensure clarity in virtual settings.

Storytelling for Impact:

>>> Storytelling is like a powerful tool that turns tricky technical stuff into relatable stories. Engineers use real-life examples, comparisons, and stories to make their work easier to understand and more interesting.

Stories can make people feel things and connect with what's happening. Sharing the ups and downs of a project makes people care and support what's going on.

For example, teams overcoming big problems in a project tell their story - the issues they faced, the smart fixes, and the final success.

>>> By using stories, engineers can explain hard technical stuff in a way that makes sense to everyone. They don't overload people with too much technical stuff.

Stories can also help people make decisions. Engineers talk about times when stories changed people's minds, showing how important it is to tell stories that really make an impact.

>>> Engineers make stories that focus on problems, solutions, and what they learned, keeping people interested and sharing the important parts.

Active Listening and Feedback:

>>> Active listening means really listening, not just hearing. For engineers, it's super important to understand what people need and feel.

Understanding what people feel helps engineers talk to them better. Non-verbal cues like eye contact show you are interested in a conversation.

>>> Good listening builds trust among team members and stakeholders. Giving quick feedback makes communication better.

Encouraging everyone to share thoughts is key to understanding project needs.

>>> Dealing with communication problems is tough. Experienced engineers give tips on being patient and clear in talking.

Building good relationships with stakeholders solves misunderstandings. Having a clear plan for what to say is super important for everyone to understand. Flexibility in talking to suit what others understand and care about is essential.

>>> Learning from successful and unsuccessful times is crucial. Continuous learning is vital for engineers to be good communicators

Training and Development:

>>> Training programs and workshops that focus on improving how engineers communicate are highly beneficial. They simplify the explanation of complex ideas for engineers. Concrete data demonstrating the enhancement these programs bring, such as increased client satisfaction or more successful projects, validates their effectiveness.

Learning the skills of active listening, storytelling, and conflict resolution is crucial. These abilities, often acquired through training, significantly improve communication.

>>> Participating in communication workshops helps engineers prepare for real workplace scenarios.

Tailored training for engineers aids in mastering the nuanced communication required in their field. This type of learning is practical and aligns with the demands of engineering.

>>> The evidence that these training programs enhance project outcomes serves as proof of their efficacy. Engineers collaborating in multilingual and multicultural teams find invaluable guidance in these programs.

Join the conversation!

Share your experiences and insights about effective communication in your corporate meetings in your engineering career.

?Let's discuss, your perspective matters, and be part of the dialogue for better communication in the engineering field.