Leaving an old job and starting a new one is an emotion packed transition. This is obviously true for the person making the transition, but also for those co-workers left behind.
For the person leaving there is some sadness. If you at all liked your job, it probably had a lot to do with the people who became a part of your life and who are now becoming a part of your past. One key is to keep contact and maintain friendships. Some of my better friends are people who we said goodbye to when leaving the Navy in 1992, but have been able to stay in touch with ever since.
For those left behind with a bit of a void in their lives, they should certainly feel some excitement for the person who is entering a new place with new opportunities and they should take some of the initiative to maintain the contact.
The person who has moved on, and feels some sadness from doing so, also needs to embrace the new and exciting with open arms and no sense of regret. Life is full of change and opportunity.
As you may have guessed, I am close to this topic right now. Today, one of my friends moved on and there is a void in my life. A void somewhat tempered by some pride for the professional she has become and the confidence I have in her ability to succeed at the highest level.
Good Luck Alisha. We miss you already.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Innovative Engineering Academy
Tonight we held the second dinner gathering for engineers who work in northern Minnesota. We met at Valentini's in Chisholm. The purpose of our group is to provide a social and professional network. The socialization definitely happened and I noticed many professional interactions taking place as well. A key element is people getting to know people from a doing business standpoint or for potential new job contacts. We had a guest speaker, Rodney VanBaalen - ICC Engr grad, who is the general manager of Rockwell Automation IPS and four participants got up to talk more about themselves and their companies. The only downer was the weather turned bad so the 50 people who had RSVP'd turned into 32 actually attending. Our next meeting will be on August 8th. Everyone is invited.
This week I have been working with two colleagues on a concept we call the Innovative Engineering Academy. It is a model for a radical new approach to engineering education. I tried explaining it to the group tonight and my message bombed so I want to try again here.
Engineering education is behind the times. Research has been available for 10 years showing that lectures are one of the poorest methods to enable learning. Additionally, 6-7 years ago a document describing the attributes engineers need to attain to be effective was published. It is called Engineer 2020. The ABET criteria call for an engineer that is quite different from the engineer we are currently graduating. Despite these facts, very little has changed in the way engineering education happens. If you were to look back and analyze the effectiveness of the time you spent in class or compare the skills you need to be successful in your job with the skills you attained in college, I think you would agree. We believe there is a better way. This week we created a new website that describes our proposed model. I invite anyone interested in this topic to visit our site:
http://engineeringacademy.typepad.com
The site is new and still a little rough around the edges, but anyone reading our pages will get a flavor for the ideas. In one sentence, we propose an education without courses and without grades. If that isn't radical, I don't know what is.
Will this ever happen? Who knows. Should this happen? Absolutely and I hope that you will take a few minutes to send me your comments.
TBL: With all of the advances in everything around us, including the psychology of how our brain learns, why is college education still following the model established over 200 years ago?
This week I have been working with two colleagues on a concept we call the Innovative Engineering Academy. It is a model for a radical new approach to engineering education. I tried explaining it to the group tonight and my message bombed so I want to try again here.
Engineering education is behind the times. Research has been available for 10 years showing that lectures are one of the poorest methods to enable learning. Additionally, 6-7 years ago a document describing the attributes engineers need to attain to be effective was published. It is called Engineer 2020. The ABET criteria call for an engineer that is quite different from the engineer we are currently graduating. Despite these facts, very little has changed in the way engineering education happens. If you were to look back and analyze the effectiveness of the time you spent in class or compare the skills you need to be successful in your job with the skills you attained in college, I think you would agree. We believe there is a better way. This week we created a new website that describes our proposed model. I invite anyone interested in this topic to visit our site:
http://engineeringacademy.typepad.com
The site is new and still a little rough around the edges, but anyone reading our pages will get a flavor for the ideas. In one sentence, we propose an education without courses and without grades. If that isn't radical, I don't know what is.
Will this ever happen? Who knows. Should this happen? Absolutely and I hope that you will take a few minutes to send me your comments.
TBL: With all of the advances in everything around us, including the psychology of how our brain learns, why is college education still following the model established over 200 years ago?
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Here is a comment from Jill:
"The best compliment I ever received when I first started my career, "I am so surprised you are not one of those cocky new grads who feel they are entitled to everything."
Please no matter what you do your very first years of work is tell people how much you deserve ____ (more money, bigger projects, lead roles, etc). No one deserves anything you have to earn it!"
I have to agree with her. The biggest mistake any engineer makes early in their career is to act like we are better or more deserving than those around us. Especially the technicians and blue collar workers. The fact of the matter is that we are not. They know more about the plant or process or whatever than we do because they have been working on it for 10, 20, or 30 years. These important people will make our lives miserable if we come across the wrong way. In fact, many of them will have a chip on their shoulder about us right away because of their experience with prior "cocky" young engineers.
The best thing to do is ask them lots of questions. People like to talk about their work. The more you ask about what they know and the more you ask them for advice, the quicker you will be accepted and thus respected.
TBL: Earning the respect of your co-workers is one of the best ways to make work a place you enjoy. Losing their respect by coming across as deserving or better will make work a place you dread.
Thanks Jill!!
"The best compliment I ever received when I first started my career, "I am so surprised you are not one of those cocky new grads who feel they are entitled to everything."
Please no matter what you do your very first years of work is tell people how much you deserve ____ (more money, bigger projects, lead roles, etc). No one deserves anything you have to earn it!"
I have to agree with her. The biggest mistake any engineer makes early in their career is to act like we are better or more deserving than those around us. Especially the technicians and blue collar workers. The fact of the matter is that we are not. They know more about the plant or process or whatever than we do because they have been working on it for 10, 20, or 30 years. These important people will make our lives miserable if we come across the wrong way. In fact, many of them will have a chip on their shoulder about us right away because of their experience with prior "cocky" young engineers.
The best thing to do is ask them lots of questions. People like to talk about their work. The more you ask about what they know and the more you ask them for advice, the quicker you will be accepted and thus respected.
TBL: Earning the respect of your co-workers is one of the best ways to make work a place you enjoy. Losing their respect by coming across as deserving or better will make work a place you dread.
Thanks Jill!!
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Telephone etiquette:
I am still thinking about those people in their first few days on the job. But I guess this applies to us all. So when it comes to answering the phone, the best thing to do is answer using your name. Perhaps your company has a standard phone answering protocol. If so, use it. If not, come up with something like this:
"ICC Engineering. This is Ron Ulseth."
More importantly from an etiquette standpoint is when you are making the call. After all the person calling you probably knew that you would be the person answering. When you call them, they are unaware. So when calling someone, try this:
Phone is anwered - "Hello. This is Ron Ulseth calling, is Brad Steinbrecher in?" or similarly "Hello. Is Brad Steinbrecher in?, this is Ron Ulseth calling."
TBL: Learning to be a professional includes lots of lessons. The fewer learned the hard way, the better.
P.S. Here was the protocol for my first job - don't laugh:
"Navy Nuclear Power School, Enlisted Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Division, this line is non-secure, Ensign Ulseth speaking, may I help you sir or ma'am?"
Yup.
I am still thinking about those people in their first few days on the job. But I guess this applies to us all. So when it comes to answering the phone, the best thing to do is answer using your name. Perhaps your company has a standard phone answering protocol. If so, use it. If not, come up with something like this:
"ICC Engineering. This is Ron Ulseth."
More importantly from an etiquette standpoint is when you are making the call. After all the person calling you probably knew that you would be the person answering. When you call them, they are unaware. So when calling someone, try this:
Phone is anwered - "Hello. This is Ron Ulseth calling, is Brad Steinbrecher in?" or similarly "Hello. Is Brad Steinbrecher in?, this is Ron Ulseth calling."
TBL: Learning to be a professional includes lots of lessons. The fewer learned the hard way, the better.
P.S. Here was the protocol for my first job - don't laugh:
"Navy Nuclear Power School, Enlisted Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Division, this line is non-secure, Ensign Ulseth speaking, may I help you sir or ma'am?"
Yup.
Monday, June 4, 2007
ICC Engineering Reunion:
Thursday June 28th 7-10 PM at ICC in the engineering building. This is an open house for former students of Aaron Wenger. Aaron will be in attendance and he cannot attend Friday night. I encourage all of Aaron's former students from both ICC and HCC to attend. We hope to have a cash bar set up and have plenty of opportunity to visit.
Friday June 29th 8 PM to ?. Again we will be in the engineering building and again have a cash bar and snacks. There will be a program at 9:00 PM. This event follows the ICC All-Class reunion. Everyone is encouraged to attend both the ICC events and the engineering events. The timing of the engineering events is such that those who live 3+ hours away can still drive up after work and take part. We are expecting a big turn out. Please come.
Here is the link to the ICC All-Class reunion:
http://www.iccfoundation.org/alumni.html
See you there!
Thursday June 28th 7-10 PM at ICC in the engineering building. This is an open house for former students of Aaron Wenger. Aaron will be in attendance and he cannot attend Friday night. I encourage all of Aaron's former students from both ICC and HCC to attend. We hope to have a cash bar set up and have plenty of opportunity to visit.
Friday June 29th 8 PM to ?. Again we will be in the engineering building and again have a cash bar and snacks. There will be a program at 9:00 PM. This event follows the ICC All-Class reunion. Everyone is encouraged to attend both the ICC events and the engineering events. The timing of the engineering events is such that those who live 3+ hours away can still drive up after work and take part. We are expecting a big turn out. Please come.
Here is the link to the ICC All-Class reunion:
http://www.iccfoundation.org/alumni.html
See you there!
Here is a comment on the motivation topic from a few days ago. It is worthy of repeating here on the front page. Thanks Rich.
I had a co-worker whose motivation level gradually dropped, his job performance suffered, and he eventually was placed into a position where he had to quit. Unfortunate, since he had great potential.
I've found a few things that have helped me when I start to lose the excitement:
1) Take some time to focus on activities outside of work for a while. Get involved in volunteer work, refocus on your family life, pick up an old hobby, or start a new one. Doing this will fill some of the needs that your job just can't fulfill, and you'll likely find that it takes much less to motivate you to get to work every day.
2) Find a way to break out of the routine within your job and recapture the excitement. For me, this has often come through "skunk-works" projects. Every workplace has at least a few things that are just waiting to get done, but nobody has the time or the expertise to tackle. Find one that interests you, and see what progress you can make during your spare time. Caveats to this approach are: a) Be sure that you do not take time away from your assigned duties for the side project. b) You should confirm with your supervisor that they're ok with you taking on a side project (bosses usually don't like surprises, plus, they're likely to be aware of any land-mines you're likely to hit).
I had a co-worker whose motivation level gradually dropped, his job performance suffered, and he eventually was placed into a position where he had to quit. Unfortunate, since he had great potential.
I've found a few things that have helped me when I start to lose the excitement:
1) Take some time to focus on activities outside of work for a while. Get involved in volunteer work, refocus on your family life, pick up an old hobby, or start a new one. Doing this will fill some of the needs that your job just can't fulfill, and you'll likely find that it takes much less to motivate you to get to work every day.
2) Find a way to break out of the routine within your job and recapture the excitement. For me, this has often come through "skunk-works" projects. Every workplace has at least a few things that are just waiting to get done, but nobody has the time or the expertise to tackle. Find one that interests you, and see what progress you can make during your spare time. Caveats to this approach are: a) Be sure that you do not take time away from your assigned duties for the side project. b) You should confirm with your supervisor that they're ok with you taking on a side project (bosses usually don't like surprises, plus, they're likely to be aware of any land-mines you're likely to hit).
Sunday, June 3, 2007
First day of work.
Tomorrow (Monday) is the first day of the beginning of the engineering career for many new engineering graduates. First of all, congratulations! You have had this point be the focus for many years and it is finally here. Now there is a new focus - becoming a valuable part of your new company.
This is a scary new undertaking. The first scary part is that there is a whole new set of rules. And you don't know most of them yet! How do you address your boss? Do you call her Janet? or Ms. Jensen? Where do you sit at the conference table for your first team meeting? Is it ok to ask for help? Sure - but how much without being too dependent? Over the next few months I encourage you to either email me or post anonymous questions. This can be a great forum for getting answers during this transition.
Now for the first few answers: If you feel comfortable, ask her how you should address her. If not, just pay attention to how your co-workers do it. In fact that is the best piece of advice I can give - be very attentive to your surroundings. Notice what other people do and notice how it is perceived by the rest of the work community. Being very aware can be the best way to learn both what is acceptable and what is not.
First conference - don't sit down at the head of the table - it is not your spot. Kind of wait until everyone else is sitting down and hopefully someone else will tell you where to sit.
Handshakes. You will meet lots of new people and shake lots of hands. Have a firm grip and look the people in the eye. Be confident of who you are and come across as genuinely being happy to meet people and be a new part of this team.
Ok. Enough already. More over the next few days.
Here are a few miscellaneous jottings:
*Bart and I had a great time in Los Angeles. We learned a lot about new methods for teaching Intro to Engineering.
*My daughter Liz graduated from high school on Friday night. I am very proud of who she has become and the positive approach she is taking as she embarks on a new life. Liz will report to basic training for the Air National Guard later this month and will start at St. Olaf in the Fall.
*Yesterday, Angie and I joined former ICCers, Rick and Crystal Smith and Laura Elsenpeter at Sara Smith's marriage to Dan Pankonin. It was a beautiful ceremony on the shores of Lake Superior. Sara gave a heartfelt speech that was classic Sara. I am proud to be considered her friend and of the professional she has become.
This coming Thursday, June 7th is the second dinner meeting of the engineers working in Northeastern Minnesota. We are meeting at Valentini's in Chisholm at 5:30. The cost is $17. All engineers, interns, and alumni are invited. If you are interested in coming and haven't already responded, RSVP to me by Tuesday morning.
ICC Engineering Reunion is coming up on June 28th and June 29th. Read tomorrows TBL for more information.
Tomorrow (Monday) is the first day of the beginning of the engineering career for many new engineering graduates. First of all, congratulations! You have had this point be the focus for many years and it is finally here. Now there is a new focus - becoming a valuable part of your new company.
This is a scary new undertaking. The first scary part is that there is a whole new set of rules. And you don't know most of them yet! How do you address your boss? Do you call her Janet? or Ms. Jensen? Where do you sit at the conference table for your first team meeting? Is it ok to ask for help? Sure - but how much without being too dependent? Over the next few months I encourage you to either email me or post anonymous questions. This can be a great forum for getting answers during this transition.
Now for the first few answers: If you feel comfortable, ask her how you should address her. If not, just pay attention to how your co-workers do it. In fact that is the best piece of advice I can give - be very attentive to your surroundings. Notice what other people do and notice how it is perceived by the rest of the work community. Being very aware can be the best way to learn both what is acceptable and what is not.
First conference - don't sit down at the head of the table - it is not your spot. Kind of wait until everyone else is sitting down and hopefully someone else will tell you where to sit.
Handshakes. You will meet lots of new people and shake lots of hands. Have a firm grip and look the people in the eye. Be confident of who you are and come across as genuinely being happy to meet people and be a new part of this team.
Ok. Enough already. More over the next few days.
Here are a few miscellaneous jottings:
*Bart and I had a great time in Los Angeles. We learned a lot about new methods for teaching Intro to Engineering.
*My daughter Liz graduated from high school on Friday night. I am very proud of who she has become and the positive approach she is taking as she embarks on a new life. Liz will report to basic training for the Air National Guard later this month and will start at St. Olaf in the Fall.
*Yesterday, Angie and I joined former ICCers, Rick and Crystal Smith and Laura Elsenpeter at Sara Smith's marriage to Dan Pankonin. It was a beautiful ceremony on the shores of Lake Superior. Sara gave a heartfelt speech that was classic Sara. I am proud to be considered her friend and of the professional she has become.
This coming Thursday, June 7th is the second dinner meeting of the engineers working in Northeastern Minnesota. We are meeting at Valentini's in Chisholm at 5:30. The cost is $17. All engineers, interns, and alumni are invited. If you are interested in coming and haven't already responded, RSVP to me by Tuesday morning.
ICC Engineering Reunion is coming up on June 28th and June 29th. Read tomorrows TBL for more information.
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