The Importance of communication skills for engineers

 

“I contend that we (engineers) are undervalued because of our widespread inability to explain

what we do to the general public (and why it is so important). It is one of the hardest goals to

accomplish, to be able to boil down difficult concepts into a short and easily understood

presentation or elevator pitch.”

Marybeth Miceli, President, Miceli Infrastructure Consulting, USA (2011)

 

According to Marybeth Miceli, the work of engineers is often overlooked due their incapability to clearly describe the scope of their work and how their jobs are crucial to the society. Amongst the toughest tasks for engineers to fulfil would be relaying the explanation into concise yet clear-cut address to the mass.

In my opinion, I agree with Marybeth Miceli that engineers' work do not get much recognition among people. I feel that an average person does not truly know or understand what an engineer does compared to other professions such as an architect despite the fact that an engineer's work is essential to have a functioning society and civilisation. Engineers are often given less credit and overlooked due to the lack of discussion and awareness about their work. Hence, engineers need to significantly improve on their communication skills in order to be able to increase the general public's awareness about their work so that credit is given where it is due.