Growth in career graphs is directly linked to acquiring the right skills and expertise. As you move towards a higher managerial role, it becomes pivotal that you have the necessary leadership skills and also essential technical abilities.
While gaining technical skills has always been important for growth, it has become all the more necessary in current times when the technology sector is growing at an exponential rate.
There is no area of business that has remained untouched by technology such as A.I, automation, data science and more. Those looking to grow professionally need to realise that as the technical domain integrates itself into every business process, gaining technical skills can be your ticket to well-paid managerial roles.
Industry 4.0 is fuelled by technology
Innovation and development have been the bedrock of the business landscape and have determined everything from industry outlook to newer job roles. This industrial revolution has been a continuous process - the first was powered by steam, the second by electricity, the third by computing and the current Industry 4.0 is all about new technology. It is powered by data and A.I that have increasingly taken over business functions.
According to Forbes, as we move towards a hybrid work environment and many tasks get automated, technical skills become all the more valuable. This expertise varies as per the industry and is highly necessary when it comes to performing job-specific tasks. If you are looking to improve your leadership skills, then you need practical skills in data literacy, machine learning, product development and a lot more.
Technical expertise needed for effective leadership
Senior and mid-level engineers and managers need to have specific skills and knowledge that determines how well they can perform their job roles. Those who are promoted to leadership roles need to have technical and functional skills that should translate into effective project management.
Leaders should be able to coach, guide and co-create with their team members and that is only possible if they have the necessary technical expertise. For example, a leader who does not understand how to implement new digital technologies to existing work processes will not be able to lead, inspire or support their team. They will also fail to take accountability for the setbacks faced by the team.
Organisations are also focused on getting the right talent on board and give equal importance to leadership skills and technical abilities. Many brands such as SAS, Marriott International Inc. and Amazon have amazing training and development programmes that focus on nurturing existing technical skills and encourage employees to incorporate new technical abilities.
Acquiring technical skills
While global brands are encouraging technical skill building, candidates must focus on acquiring the necessary skills to be able to handle managerial roles effectively. A functional expert can easily juggle roles and become a skilled leader capable of guiding their team.
Often many organisations fall short in filling the necessary skill gap when it comes to hiring or coaching the right talent. In this scenario, candidates who already possess the right technical abilities have an added advantage of getting senior-level job roles.
In the data-driven digital world, engineers and tech professionals are at the forefront of innovation and development. This puts them at the helm of business changes where new objectives and advanced goals are being created.
When leadership skills that focus on team building, sustainability, project planning and overall business management are combined with technical expertise, you get a leader who is able to undertake a vast array of responsibilities. Such a person knows how to leverage the right tool and technology and can easily guide a team on it.
Importance of engineering managers
When it comes to bridging the gap between business skills and technical abilities, no one does it as seamlessly as engineering managers. The learnings that are derived through engineering makes you skilled at addressing and solving technical problems while management techniques allow them to lead and inspire your team with empathy.
This combined knowledge also allows you to create actionable goals and strategies. Engineering managers find it easier to make balanced decisions as they have a holistic understanding of every necessary aspect. Along with being able to make thoroughly researched and evidence-based decisions, they are also able to meet business goals in a more systematic way that is aligned with the project budget and schedule.
If you are keen to start a career in engineering management then check out MSc in Engineering Management programme offered by the Berlin School of Business and Innovation (BSBI)
This master’s programme combines the complexity of engineering systems with management expertise and has three specialisations to offer - Project Management; Logistics, TQM and Supply Chain Management and Sustainability and Energy Management.
This 18-month master’s programme is offered in partnership with the reputed International Telematic University UNINETTUNO. It is perfectly suited to the needs of engineering professionals who are looking for senior and top management roles.
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