5 ways for engineers to improve their communication skills

Don’t believe the stereotype: professional engineers aren’t shut away in workshops and labs. They’re at the heart of engineering firms and need to be excellent communicators to make sure their colleagues, customers and sometimes the public understand the importance of their work.

Earlier this week I judged the London regional final of the Institution of Civil Engineers’ annual Communications Competition, which puts students and recent graduates through the potential trauma of a mock public consultation.

Not only did the entrants have to come up with viable plans for a civil engineering scheme, they had to persuade the audience it was the right thing to do. And true to life, there was even a rowdy heckler shouting objections (in the form of one of last year’s winners).

Here’s a round up of the advice the judges gave the competitors based on the good and the not-so-good performances we saw.

Before you can persuade anyone of anything, they need to know who you are and why they should listen to you. If you’re addressing a public meeting you should set out your role and credentials and those of your organisation. That will help build trust with your audience and give them a reason to take you seriously.