You can take steps to set them at ease by establishing trust and maximising the potential of your team by creating a collaborative work environment.
Success as an engineering director will depend on both your technical know-how and your leadership abilities to drive change whilst managing new stakeholders and business challenges.
Here are seven essential leadership tips that every engineering director should consider.
"Manager to director is a challenging transition. There's a high failure rate. The good news is there's also some keys to successfully negotiating the change" John Hattam, Aspiring Engineering Director Programme trainer.
1. Cultivate effective communication
As a director, you're going to spend most of your tightly booked schedule managing relationships – all sorts of relationships including Board members, your team, other departments and external stakeholders. Remember you won't always be able to make everyone happy, and you will need to flex your listening and persuasion skills to make the best decisions.
Clear and transparent communication is the foundation of successful leadership, which includes:
- Setting realistic expectations
- Providing feedback
- Sharing a clear vision
Encourage an environment where teams feel comfortable to express their thoughts, ideas, and concerns.
“As a leader, you need to develop individual and team resilience.” Dr Aneesh Banerjee, Aspiring Engineering Director Programme trainer.
2. Lead by example
Since there are many responsibilities to balance, such as management, leadership, HR, the business, the market, marketing, finance, sustainability best practises, staff incentives, and recruitment, no director is completely well-rounded and knowledgeable in every single part of their position.
Be honest with yourself about what you know, what you could know better, and what you hardly know at all. Then, be proactive about filling in the gaps either by signing yourself up for training or by being sure you surround yourself with the right people who will be able to fill in the gaps for you.
Strive to be a role model for your team, ensuring that you create opportunities for growth and development, and lead initiatives with enthusiasm. Leading by example includes:
- Demonstrating professionalism
- Being adaptable in different situations
- Focus on mindset, seeing everything as an opportunity to learn and grow
- Showing resilience during challenging times
- Displaying commitment with a strong work ethic.
“Manage your resilience. Give yourself a chance to achieve sustainable success. Someone once said; “It’s a marathon, not a sprint”. It’s not selfish to focus on yourself. It’s an investment in your success, and those around you.” Phill Slater, Aspiring Engineering Director Programme trainer.
3. Encourage a collaborative culture
Now that you're at the top of your organisation, do not lose sight of the reality of achieving the organisation goals and targets. By staying connected to the actual work of your team you'll gain a lot of trust among your colleagues and valuable insights into your organisation. Be careful not to apply a micro-management style in trying to stay connected, this is never well received and can have a negative impact.
Collaboration allows for an abundance of innovation and creativity. To create a collaborative atmosphere:
- Recognise and celebrate team achievements
- Encourage brainstorming and knowledge sharing
- Boost confidence and commitment in the team.
4. Empower your team
Employee attrition is one of the most expensive, often unexpected expenses any organisation can have. For this reason, hiring the right people from the start and then investing in them so that they want to keep working for you is essential to keeping costs low. When hiring, credentials and experience are important, but they are not as important as culture fit.
Additionally, your current employees need to be engaged, satisfied, and feel fulfilled by their jobs at your organisation so that they'll stay. They also need to be adequately compensated and recognised for their hard work. Provide employees with opportunities to train and work on their career development so that they can experience the pleasure of upward mobility in your organisation – whether that looks like a promotion or an employee's ability to take on new responsibilities that excite them in a slightly different role.
As a director, you will soon come to realise that in a new leadership role, you have less day-to-day control. By creating an empowered team, they will become more engaged, motivated, and committed to their roles. Foster an environment where team members feel trusted and supported to take on new challenges. This can be achieved by:
- Delegating tasks and responsibilities
- Offering constructive feedback
- Acknowledging and rewarding achievements
- Developing empathy
- Manage stress and maintain a positive outlook
“You are only as good as the team you have around you. Recruit individuals who you can learn from, invest in the team, value them, and reward them appropriately.” Phill Slater
5. Think strategically
Successful engineering leaders possess the ability to see the big picture and think long-term. To be a successful director you must stick to your goals, values, and budget. There will be situations where individuals might pitch ideas to you that don't quite align with the strategy, or that simply don't fit into the budget. In these situations, you have to say no. It is imperative that you become accustomed to saying no to people as a director, and it's best to do it as soon as possible.
Thinking strategically involves identifying potential issues, future trends, and opportunities for growth. A strategic mindset will allow you to:
- Prioritise projects and tasks effectively
- Manage risks and uncertainties
- Guide your team towards common goals
6. Champion continuous improvement
In a constantly changing landscape, digital innovations and climate considerations are transforming various sectors and reshaping the way businesses operate. As a result, these technological advancements must be integrated into an organisation's strategic plans. To stay at the forefront, continuous learning and growth are necessary.
Leadership involves motivating your team to persistently strive for higher standards through:
- Promoting a culture of learning and feedback
- Encouraging cross-functional training
- Investing in professional development opportunities
7. Adopt a mentor and find a network of support
As a new director, there is a lot you can learn from the experience of someone who has already been in your shoes. Attend events for leaders so that you can find both a network to rely on and commiserate with in addition to a mentor who can help guide you in your new role.
By incorporating these tips into your leadership style, you are well on your way to creating a high-performing team capable of tackling even the most complex engineering challenges.
Aspiring Engineering Director Programme
“If you want to become a better leader, you have to become a better person - the journey to higher leadership positions is always entwined with your own journey of self-discovery.” John Hattam, Aspiring Engineering Director Programme trainer.
Join the new Aspiring Engineering Director Programme for guidance from industry experts, coaching sessions and a roundtable event on leadership.