The Most Valuable Engineer

I spoke recently with a high-ranking engineer who understood something that many non-managers miss.

OK, well, it’s also something that even many managers and senior executives miss – even though it’s often a key part of management and leadership training, and something I’ve talked about frequently in videos like these.

Here’s what this engineer understood that others miss:

There’s only so much value you can create from your own technical expertise. Eventually, regardless of whether you choose a management track or a purely technical career path, you’ll need to start multiplying your value through your influence over other people.

And here’s the even more crucial part…

The strongest influence you can have on others doesn’t come from a title.

You may feel, “Oh, if only I could achieve the Senior, or Staff, or Principle title, then maybe people would listen to me!” If that’s what you’re thinking, you’re already getting in your own way.

Whether you choose management or technical expert as your career path, your influence through strong interpersonal relationships will be what makes you the most valuable team member you can be.

If you’d like to develop this skill so you can increase your value in your organization, let’s talk. Visit stevedwire.com/talk to start the conversation.