Having worked with engineers for the past seventeen years, I can confidently attest that not all engineers are shy, on the contrary, some are so talkative,you can’t get them to stop talking. Engineers can be extroverts, introverts and everything in between. Whether born that way or developed during childhood – that question is better left to psychologists. Neither personality type makes someone inherently good nor bad at their job, but shy engineers may have trouble expressing their ideas in a group setting. Younger people may be particularly reserved.
A good manager knows how to draw these engineers out, making them feel comfortable enough to contribute. Here are 5 tips if you suspect someone on your team has something to say, but is hesitant to say it:
Ask for their input. If an engineer knows that they’re expected to participate, they’ll be more likely to contribute. “Ask them in advance of a meeting that you would like them to contribute on a specific topic or sub-topic so they come prepared,” says Ron Smith, an engineering leader in Seattle. As an engineering team leader in a meeting, open-ended questions are key. Ask by name specifically for their opinion or more assertive engineers will dominate the conversation. The key is to pave the way for them to easily speak up, Ron adds: “You need to create time for a shy engineer to contribute to the conversation.”
Thank them for contributing. If someone who is shy does share publicly – even in just a team setting, a simple “thank you” will reinforce their behavior. “Saying things like, ‘Thank you for sharing, great thought,’ will have a positive effect and encourage them to continue to contribute to the conversation and future conversations“
Point out the risk of not speaking up. According to Karmae Cipriotti Fahr, CEO of the Fahr Group in Moorestown, New Jersey “As a manager, you often times have team members who aren’t adding to the conversation. When one or two team members dominate the conversation, creative ideas or even solutions to challenges can be limited or go unrealized. It is important that all team members have input and that quiet engineers understand the importance of adding their wisdom, insight and experience to the team”
Encourage them to learn public speaking. I’m not the most extroverted person in engineering circles. One of the best things I have ever done for myself and I recommend for introverted engineers is to enroll in a program like Toastmasters training. Toastmasters teaches the art of impromptu speaking – when you’re put on the spot. It also taught me to speak in front of speakers, to project my voice and overcome my fears of expressing an opinion that everyone may not agree with. Programs like Toastmasters provide practical training and experience to help engineers become more comfortable speaking in front of others.
Accept both written and verbal input. While encouraging verbal input is important, you may also want to encourage written input from engineers. Written input allows the engineer to collect their thoughts and lay out their presentation in a logical, presentable order. A shy engineer “reading” their ideas at a team meeting may be easier and help overcome some of their fears, allowing them to get more comfortable speaking in front of others.
Gary Perman is a certified recruiting professional and owns PermanTech, a national search firm which specializes in recruiting EV, NGV, Alternative Energy and Electronics executives, managers and engineers. He is also the Chair for the IEEE Oregon Section. He can be reached at [emailprotected] www.permantech.com
