Effective Communication is one of the most important skills that an engineer can have. I have often noticed that the guy that gets promoted is often NOT the best engineer, but someone who is a good engineer that has exceptional communication skills. Often effective communication does not come naturally to an engineer, but it is a skill well worth nurturing and developing.

In my career the most successful engineers were always the ones willing to get their hands dirty. This might mean going out and spending extended time on the production floor, or in the field, or interacting with the people that would actually build the thing you are working on. In this video I discuss the importance of being willing to get your hands dirty, and not just sit in the office in front of a computer screen.

Often educated people tend towards being prideful and arrogant. This issue can lead to engineers not treating support staff with respect. An engineer that can learn to treat support staff with the utmost respect that they deserve will not only be doing the right thing, but will be boosting their career at the same time.