Ahead of Essential Management Skills 2017 (EMS 2017), we spoke to Nikki Barker, Associate, Perspectiv LLP who is leading one of the workshops. Nikki explains how important management skills are for the career development of engineers, what she thinks the biggest challenge is for engineers keen to go into management and what she is most looking forward to by attending the event.
Nikki Barker is a Chartered Engineer and a member of the Institution, who has worked with Perspectiv since 2010. She also runs her own engineering, training and development consultancy largely focused on the UK gas industry. Nikki is a trained facilitator, with counselling/coaching and excellent interpersonal skills, who brings passion, practicality and innovation to the sessions she runs.
Q: Could you briefly explain your involvement in management skills?
NB: As a Chartered Engineer, an active member of the Institution for nearly 30 years and having been involved in the planning of two EMS conferences back in the 1990s, I feel that I should be giving something back to the profession, especially since becoming an associate of Perspectiv in 2009. Along with my engineering projects, I also work in the facilitative leadership and creative problem solving field.
Q: What are you most looking forward to by attending and presenting at Essential Management Skills 2017?
NB: Although I run one of the interactive workshops at the EMS conference – “What’s Your View – Thinking about your problem solving and innovation preferences”, I have once again been invited to sit on the ‘question time panel’. I really enjoy the interaction with the delegates and being able to give my perspectives on the questions asked.
Q: How important are management skills for the career development of engineers?
NB: Technical competence and capabilities are the mainstay of an engineer’s toolbox, however unless engineers work in silos (which none of us do) then it is very important to develop your inter-personal and management skills. These are things that can be learnt and developed, just like technical skills, and will be invaluable for moving forward in one’s career.
Q: What do you think is the biggest challenge for engineers keen to go into management and how can this be overcome?
NB: People still like to stereotype engineers as the ‘boffins in the corner in the corduroy pants who cannot communicate with others’. This attitude is changing and as engineers we need drive this change. Engineers need to show that they can develop the management skills required to lead a business forward. They need to be constantly learning, keeping abreast of technical developments while developing their interpersonal skills. Requesting feedback and doing something with what they hear is not only humbling, often hard, but a great way to develop if you work on the areas identified.
Nikki Barker will be leading a workshop at Essential Management Skills 2017 which is the only event specifically for engineers aspiring to be managers that will give you the 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 2017 event page.