Engineers: Four ways to increase your communication skills

Engineers are generally pretty good at communicating technical details of their work to other engineers, but things start to fall apart pretty quick when an engineer needs to talk to non-engineers about their work.

Over my career, I've learned how important it is to be able to communicate to non-technical people.  You have to be able to talk to product managers, sales staff, CEOs, CFOs and the like, in a way which clearly explains issues, features, and technology without loosing them in detail.  It's an important skill which takes time to develop.

Here is the key: great engineers know how to articulate technology vision, issues and details clearly.

If you want to take lead technical roles, you will need to know how to communicate to people.

So with that in mind, here are my suggestions for improving your communication skills.

(1) On a regular basis, explain to your significant other why what you do is important.  

Don't explain what you do, but explain why what you are doing is important.  The difference here is subtle, but crucial - you need to be able to explain to non-engineers what value you are adding to the product you are developing.   Do this on a regular basis.  If you are not used to this it can be really hard at first, but it is worth it.

Besides developing a better relationship with your significant other, you will learn to talk business value  about the technology you develop - a great skill to have.

(2) Give presentations.

Is there a need to update sales staff,  demo to a customer, or present a trade show?  Volunteer to do it.  At first it may be hard, but you get better at it with practice.  Talk to your manager and let him/her know that you want to present.  Solicit feedback on how you did.  Does your company offer classes or courses on presentation? Take one.  Another great place to present - user groups.  You can even look for non-technival venues to teach or present like your church or local non-profits.  The more you get used to being in-front of people the easier it becomes and the better you become at communicating.

(3) Listen.

That's right: to become a better communicator become a better listener.  When someone comes to see you at your desk, take your hands off the keyboard, and eyes off the screen.  Turn towards the person who is speaking to you and look at them.  Listen to what they are telling you - don't be raising ahead thinking about your response.  Don't interrupt.  

Again, for many people this is really hard to do and it takes practice.  In order to communicate to people you need to be able to listen, process, and understand what they are telling you even if you disagree with them. 

(4) Read the classics.  

I know, I know -  all you guys hated English and Chaucer.   That's not what I am talking about.  There is some really good stuff out there, so put aside your collection of Battlestar Galactica fan novels for a while.  The classics will not only help you see the world differently, but will dramatically increase your English skills.

I love science fiction and have probably read more of it than most people, but I also have grown to love the classics.  I have read almost everything by Dickens and have read all of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (unabridged!)   I read them because I thoroughly enjoyed them, but I realized in the process of reading the classics that my command of the English language increased and I got a deeper appreciation of my fellow human beings.  I believe all this helped me become a better communicator and I believe it can help you too.

Adventure?  The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas.
A cool story about over coming the odds against you? David Cooperfield by Dickens.
A story about pride, greed and good guys overcoming them? Daniel Deronda by George Elliot.

Give it a try.

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What about you, do you have any suggestions on how to increase communication skills?