Ahead of Essential Management Skills 2017 (EMS 2017), we spoke to Chris Howe, Chief Executive, ChangeMaker ISL. Chris explains how important management skills are for the career development of engineers, what he thinks the biggest challenge is for engineers keen to go into management and what he is most looking forward to by attending the event.
Chris Howe started his career with IBM in the City of London before joining the investment bank Salomon Brothers. Two years in an investment bank at a time of financial uncertainty taught him a lot about change and he founded ChangeMaker ISL, leading sustainable and positive change for a broad range of organisations.
Q: What are you most looking forward to by attending and presenting at Essential Management Skills 2017?
CH: I have been speaking at the Institution’s events for more than 20 years now and I always tell people that it is one of my favourite events of the year. The audience is generally young, enthusiastic and keen to learn. As someone who works with people of all ages, I can assure you that, in the UK at least, we have a sad habit that once people hit middle age they start to suffer from cynicism and a lack of passion for learning and trying new things – in the work context. Clearly that is a vast generalisation. The event is always well organised and is generally very easy to speak at and when I look at the programme each year it stays fresh, relevant and interesting.
Q: How important are management skills for the career development of engineers?
CH: Massively important. Of course it depends on your career ambitions; if you want to stay as a specialist engineer you might argue less so but you still have to manage and lead people in projects etc. The evidence is clear that successful projects are a result of great people management rather than great “project” management. Look at some of the more famous engineers (I am an F1 fan): Ross Braun, Adrian Newey etc. They have risen to where they are due to their management and leadership skills as well as their engineering talent. IQ only gets you so far; EQ (emotional intelligence) dictates your longer term success.
Q: What do you think is the biggest challenge for engineers keen to go into management and how can this be overcome?
CH: I don’t think that engineers have any different hurdles from people from other fields in terms of hurdles that are set by others - but I do find a lot of engineers (and I work with many companies that can be defined as Engineering businesses) fail to grasp the need to treat management and leadership development as a professional development challenge. That is one of the reasons that I love EMS 2017; it opens the door to that challenge!
Chris Howe will be speaking at Essential Management Skills 2017, which is the only event specifically for engineers aspiring to be managers that offers skills and techniques to move forward in your career.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS:
- Learn the skills you need to be a great engineering manager
- Support your Chartership application
- Attend new exclusive site visits at AWE and Bladon Jets
- Uncover important tools for breaking out of self-limiting beliefs
For further information, visit the Essential Management Skills event page.