How to connect with people better

And why, as engineers, developing this skill is going to impact your career, your project, your customer, even your personal life.

Listening skills are consequential in most careers, and in certain professions those skills will make you stand out above your peers. Imagine the difference it makes to be a doctor who listens carefully and diagnoses correctly — versus one that is casual, doesn’t hear the whole story, and makes the wrong decision.

It’s the same case with engineers, especially since so many of our customers don’t really know what’s possible with the latest changes in technology. Thoroughly comprehending our customers’ story, understanding what the real need is, and crafting a system that meets those needs is a differentiating skill.

Most of us have heard about active listening, the technique of repeating back what we’ve heard. It’s a simple technique — just listen to whomever is talking actively (meaning, with the intent of understanding) and, when the speaker finishes repeat back what you’ve heard in your own words. It provides an opportunity to confirm what you’ve understood, and it also sends the mess…