Engineers Urged To Prioritise Practical Skills

Experts in the engineering profession have emphasised the need for engineers to prioritise practical skills.

They highlighted the importance of practical skills to engineers, saying that engineers must possess certain technical skills that assist them in optimising managerial performance. These skills include; Technical skills, Social or Interpersonal (or human) skills, and conceptual skills. While these three broad skill categories encompass a wide spectrum of capabilities, each category describes the way in which these skills interact with management at various levels.

In Abuja, at the 395th general meeting/technical paper presentation in July 2023 of the Nigerian Society of Engineers NSE, Abuja Branch held at NSE Headquarters Abuja. Topic:”Leadership, strategic investment and entrepreneurship.” The director of Leadership African Centre for Leadership Strategy and Development Centre (LSD), Dr Emenike Umezi said that the fact that you have PhD in engineering or hanging the badge does not mean that you are an engineer, it is when you practise that you will know that you’re an engineer.

He further said that this specifies actions required of all people who are appointed to managerial roles and are accountable for the output of others. It is about the day-to-day things managers do to lead and manage their team.

According to him, “The additional requirements of senior executives and middle management in designing and implementing fit for workplace conditions such as structures and systems of work that enable and support effective managerial leadership and productive work. Business strategy is part of this.

“Find your voice by clarifying you personal values, set the example by aligning actions with shared values, envision the future by imagining exciting and ennobling activities, enlist others in a common vision by appealing to shared aspirations, search for opportunities by seeking innovative ways to change, grow and improve, experiment and take risks by constantly generating small wins and learning from mistakes, foster collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust, strengthen others by sharing power and discretion,

recognise contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellence, celebrate the values and victories by creating a spirit of community.

“There is a pattern, body of principles and plans that anyone can follow and create wealth. The beginning point are the riches you already possess: your self; your talents; your networks; your positive mental attitude.

“No one will plan your future for you if you don’t plan it for yourself.”

Many people are poor not because money has not passed through their hands but because they lack Strategic investment and investment mentality. They either waste or spend any money that comes their way. It is all about mindset. Some people have a toxic mentality that is harmful to investing.

“There are some mindsets that are a hindrance to investment which have been called toxic mentalities. Nomadic mentality: wander, lack staying power to concentrate on one thing until it produces. Jack of all trades and master of none. Move from job to job, place to place and from business to business.

Consumer mentality: consume without producing. No provision for saving and investment.

“Investment mentality is the mindset to manage money so that it renews itself and is not squandered away.”

He also said that entrepreneurship has been defined as the process of creating something of value, bringing it to the marketplace to satisfy identified needs or exploit business opportunities, and building a new venture around them (by devoting the necessary career resources, assuming the related risks and receiving the rewards.

While linking leadership, investment and entrepreneurship, Umezi said that you must be somebody that can sustain yourself and then be able to carry out full responsibilities.

Meanwhile, the chairman NSE Abuja Branch, Engr Ben Osy Okoh earlier, advised members on the importance of corporate dressing, which he said can help you to inculcate a good and healthy culture at the workplace.

He said, “When you dress professionally, it can improve your self-perception, leading to increased self-confidence and a positive mindset.”