Take Charge of Your Career by Developing Your Business Leadership Skills

A successful career in engineering isn’t only about having strong technical expertise. It also hinges on your ability to communicate clearly, engage and motivate others, demonstrate business acumen, and lead teams effectively. Deficits in any of these skillsets can significantly impair an engineer’s career trajectory.

Strong leadership skills are key to any manager’s or company’s success. Conversely, weakness in this area can undermine that pursuit. For example, a study found that nearly four out of five employees who recently quit their job attributed their decision to a lack of leadership or recognition in their company. Similarly, a Gallup survey of more than one million employees nationwide revealed that 75% of respondents who had quit their jobs did so because of their manager, not the position. The results confirm the old saying that “people leave managers, not companies.”

This reality is especially hard-felt in the engineering community. Many electrical and electronics engineers confirm that all or most of their academic training focused on mastery of STEM-related technical skills, with little to no time spent on developing their leadership, communication, business, or people skills.

More Than Technical Knowledge Needed to Succeed

The fallout of this skills gap has been felt across many tech-related fields. Based on discussions with dozens of executives in tech companies, a recent report identified the top five reasons why advanced-degree scientists and engineers fail in leadership roles – and they don’t relate to their technical knowledge at all. Rather, their failures were attributed to poor communication skills, lack of people skills, lack of strategic thinking, inability to develop talent, and poor time management.

As engineers progress in their careers, their responsibilities often expand beyond just technical expertise. Successive positions up the ladder will require skillsets such as managing projects, engaging and motivating employees, collaborating with other teams, planning and budgeting, demonstrating vision, and employing a range of other business and leadership skills.

This is confirmed by a Harvard Business School study, which identified “leadership” as one of the top business skills that tech and engineering employers seek in their candidates, along with strengths in communication, management, problem-solving, business operations, research, and critical thinking.

Experts agree that without these foundational skills, technical professionals will only go so far. In a recent study, for example, 73% of companies surveyed felt that business, leadership, and cognitive skills were lacking among prospective candidates. This gap will limit the growth and success of organizations and candidates alike.

The good news in all of this?

A recent study cited in Forbes revealed that only 20-30% of leadership skills are actually innate and that some 70% of leadership qualities can be acquired through experience and education. In other words, tech professionals can learn to be strong and effective leaders.

Let the IEEE Professional Development Suite Help You and Your Team Hone Your Business and Leadership Skills

Invest in your professional development and further your goal of moving up the corporate ladder by exploring the IEEE Professional Development Suite. This collection of training programs is specially designed to suit the needs of professionals at any stage of their career.

IEEE Leading Technical Teams offers learners the essential skills and strategies required to help technical teams achieve their goals. The curriculum features live interactive training, engaging case studies, and practical, real-world exercises. Discover the latest trends and best practices in technical leadership and gain the confidence to navigate complex challenges. Learn more and register for a virtual or in-person sessions!
The IEEE | Rutgers Online Mini-MBA for Engineers is specifically designed to help engineers and technology professionals secure the critical business skills that are important for long-term career success. Offered in short, flexible, and engaging modules, learners will receive a foundational overview of key business topics such as accounting, communication, ethics, finance, managerial economics, management, entrepreneurship, marketing, operations, and strategic management as well as practices to help align technical capabilities with business goals. Learn more!
The newly launched IEEE | Rutgers Online Mini-MBA: Artificial Intelligence seeks to demystify AI for business managers and leaders. Learn how AI can be used to address business pain points, optimize processes, better serve customer needs, and improve an organization’s bottom line. Get the skills needed to take a strategic, business view of AI and understand its real-world applications within your own department and organization. Learn more!