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- š° Engineers have a huge responsibility, Money isnāt the best motivator, and Having crucial conversations
š° Engineers have a huge responsibility, Money isnāt the best motivator, and Having crucial conversations
š° Engineers have a huge responsibility, Money isnāt the best motivator, and Having crucial conversations
š·š¼āāļø The products, infrastructure, and services that engineers create matter, and are often responsible for saving and protecting the lives of thousands.
Look at the recent news about dams collapsing in Libya. Their collapse led to thousands of people dead and thousands more still missing. Engineers design infrastructure, but it must also be maintained. Those dams reportedly hadnāt been serviced since 2002 amid sociopolitical instability.
But this issue isnāt just something that happens in politically unstable countries. The American Society of Civil Engineers regularly issues a āreport cardā on U.S. infrastructure, and in the last assessment in 2021, the nationās dams were given a grade of āD.ā Not great.
So if you live and work around dams, maybe there is an opportunity to reach out to your local authorities and ask about recent maintenance programs.
And if you work on infrastructure we all use on a daily basis, we thank you for keeping us safe and doing your part to help life continue to run smoothly.
š In todayās newsletter:
Creating a solid foundation for your engineering career
Success field by happiness
š„šµ Hot JobāSenior Engineer(Tech Lead) at Forge Global
Career tips
š° Why Money is NOT the #1 Motivator for Engineers
"People are not motivated solely by money but by the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to something meaningful." āDaniel H. Pink
Contrary to popular belief, money alone does not serve as a significant motivator, particularly in creative or innovative fields. Research supports the notion that monetary rewards only prevent dissatisfaction rather than creating genuine satisfaction. Understanding the "hygiene theory of motivation" from Frederick Herzberg helps us recognize money as a hygiene factor, similar to maintaining good personal hygiene. It is essential but not sufficient for long-term motivation.
This idea proved true in a poll I conducted of over 300 engineers, where onlyāā15 percent said great pay was the reason they loved being an engineer.
Instead, there are three factors that author Daniel Pink identified in his book Drive which research tells us truly help engineers and other innovators to be motivated to do great work. When you can optimize these three areas, people optimize and improve motivation far beyond what monetary incentives can do:
š Autonomy: Allowing individuals the freedom and control to determine their work and decisions fosters a sense of ownership and empowerment. Micromanagement destroys this, but trusting team members to take charge enhances their motivation and engagement. Let great engineers take responsibility for their work!
š¼ļø Mastery: Providing opportunities for professional skill development and growth cultivates a sense of mastery. Encouraging engineers to refine their craft, supporting them through failures, and nurturing a culture of continuous learning contribute to their motivation and desire to excel. Everyone loves to get better at somethingāhelp engineers be their best!
š« Purpose: Connecting engineers to a larger purpose beyond their immediate tasks ignites intrinsic motivation. This purpose can be derived from organizational goals or by understanding and supporting personal aspirations and values. By aligning work with their broader life goals, leaders can help engineers create a sense of fulfillment and motivation.
š Shifting our focus from monetary incentives to intrinsic motivation is crucial for fostering a highly engaged and innovative engineering workforce.
By embracing autonomy, facilitating mastery, and nurturing a sense of purpose, organizations and leaders can unleash the full potential of their engineering teams. Motivated engineers will not only deliver better results but also bring a fresh perspective and drive innovation.
This weekās hottest jobs
In this section youāll find the latest jobs as featured on: jobs.interestingengineering.com
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trending articles
āScience can amuse and fascinate us all, but it is engineering that changes the world.ā
Isaac Asimov, American writer, professor of biochemistry
book recommendation
š£ļø Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, and Emily Gregory
š Sometimes engineers have a bad reputation for being bad communicators, but this doesnāt have to be true for you. This book can show you how!
In a way, this book has revolutionized business communication.
Crucial Conversations provides powerful skills to ensure every conversationāespecially difficult onesāleads to the results you want. It teaches readers how to be persuasive rather than abrasive, how to get back to productive dialogue when others blow up or clam up, and it offers powerful skills for mastering high-stakes conversations, regardless of the topic or person.
Whether they take place at work or at home, with your coworkers or your spouse, Crucial Conversations have a profound impact on your career, your happiness, and your future.
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Written by
Jeff Perry
Engineering Career Coach
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