Everything | Know about Being a Good Engineer | Learned from My Dogs Mark L. Mongeau, PE., AM.ASCE Vice President, Andaman & Associates, Inc, 8008 S. Orange Ave, Orlanio, FL 37809. E-mail: mmongeau@andanancom The hook of Genesis tells ns that in the Garden of Eden, bursans had dominion over all oF the beasis in the field, birds in the air, and fish in the sea. In tis day and age, even with the hundreds of thousands of species inhabiting the earth, only one ofthese cxea- tures has earned the tile of man's best fiend. AS friends to Heit masters, protectors of oar households, and playmates of our chil dren, dogs hold very special places in our culture, No other ani- mal is as revered and loved T have two dogs: Kira, my personal favorite, « 4-year old chow-collis mix that we rescued from the Humane Society, and Lucy, a blond cocker spaniel tata frend found abandoned an wandering in their neighborhood. [am an observer of life aad I enjoy watching things happen around me. Sot is no surprise that T spend a good bit of my time around tke house watching my dogs. They spend time together and alone, and they exhibit their own unique personalities in everything they do. They are actually «Tot more pleasant to have around than a lot of people I know. By watching my dogs, Ihave leamed & good bit about life in general, and particularly about life in the professional world. ‘We, as professional engineers, are college graduates. We cer- tainly can (and usually do) argue about how our schoo! is better than any thee, However, in most cases, colleges of engineering in the United States provide a high-quality education to all of their students During our years in college (fous, five, six, or more for some of us), we leamed & great deal about formulas, solutions, theories, assumptions, design processes, and analytical methods, Basically, we learned how to effectively adress and solve prob- lems. We leamed how to do engineering and by studying hard and applying our best efforts, we leam how to co it ab well as or better than the other guy. However. [have observed through my work and teaching experiences that although colleges do a prety good job teaching engineers how to perform good engineering, they d> not generally take up the task of teaching them how to be good engineers. Make no misiake, there isa definite difference between these two skill sets, Knowing how to arrive atthe right answer is important, even entcal, to becoming a successful engineer. Iti important, but itis not enough. To be a good engineer, one must become Knowledgeable and proficient in a number of areas net ordinarily taught in schoo! or, unfortunately in many cases, on the job. So what does all of this have to do with my dogs? AS I men- tioned, | have leamed a lot by watching my dogs interact with cach other, my family, and the people and pets in my neighbor hood. Believe it or not, they exhibit alot ofthe skills needed tobe 4 good professional. | can understand a certain degree of skepti- cism on this point, but hear with me as we explore lessons that I leamed from my dogs that have helped me to beceme a better enginees W's Not What You Know ‘My home includes a rather large backyard that is surrounded by a stockade fence. For the first year that Kira (the chow-collie mix) ‘was with us, she enjoyed running and playing in the yard. When she was a litle over a year old, my neighbor got a golden re- triever named Molly. Melly and Kira hecame fast friends, and we allowed them to visit one another several times a week. After ‘Molly was about 6 months old, she became unsatisfied with the frequency of the visits and figured out how to dig under the fence separating our yard from her own, after which she came to visit at her leisure. One day I was walking in the yard and saw Kira and ‘Molly going through a newly dug hole under the fence invo the neighbor's yard. It oceurred to me that Kira had not strayed from ‘our yard until sbe was taught how to do so by her friend, Moll. I don’t know if she would have ever figured out how to da it on her own or whether ste would have even had the desire to do so. She learned how to do it only because of her relasionship with her pal next door, remember, while growing up, that my dad was ford of the adage, “It’s not what you know, but who you know." I always ‘thought that perspective was a bit cynical, but as T grew into my profession, I leamed that the “what” and the “who” are not mu: tually exclusive. We certainly have to know the “what” ia order to become successful engineers. We can’t get very far in the profession if we do not have the technical knowledge needed to solve problems. It is imporiant for us to learn the basics in college and continue to Team through both our daily work and 2 regular dose of formal continuing education. However, my dad wasn't completely wrong. The “who” is also a critical element to success. No one ‘an become successful entirely on their own. We need others, in various capacities, w help us along the way. We must, from a very carly point in our careets, begin to form relationships with our coworkers, cliemis, and supervisors. Eventually, we build a group of mentors and friends in the business who can help us when we need them. Kira couldn’t make it alone—and neither can we. Ws Not My Fault! My dogs like o play together in the house. Sometimes, they get & little to0 raucous in their play and end up knocking something nto the floor. On one occasion, the scmething was a potted plant that fell off of the plant holder onto the tle floor, breaking the clay pot and scattering the soil over the dining room. Upon hear- ing the noise, I rushed tothe dining room only to find the broken rot on the floor and my cute and very guilty-looking cocker Lucy, standing amidst the mess. Kira was nowhere to be found. After a few minotes of calling and coaxing, Kira appeared with « casual “who me?” look on her face, walked over to the pot sniffed it, and went beck to her favorite resting spot. Clearly, he: message to me wats, “I don't know what happened, but is not my fault. You may want to talk to the blond chick.” Lucy, on the ‘other hand, {09k full responsibility for her actions by waiting for 14/ JOURNAL OF PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION AND PRACTICE © ASCE / JANUARY 2004the worst to come. She clearly felt accountable for what had hap- pened and stayed put, while Kira fled the scene; although later, tive to form, Kira jumped through hoops, tying to regain my affection. Admiting one's mistakes is not always easy. Covering ‘one's own backside and deflecting blame to preserve perzonal stotus isan unfortunate behavior in the business world. Engineers need to avoid this atitude, Consider the following true story. XYZ Engincering, Inc. is like most design companies of its sive and has a mix of young and experienced engineer, design- fers, ératters and suppor staf. Everyone keeps very busy most of the time. Mary, a young project engineer, had been assigned a relatively small but urgent project fr Idea, Inc. a long-standing industrial developmeat client. In order to complete a conceptual design needed for a loan closing, Mary required ¢ ste plan that hnad been prepared by Bill, one of Ideas’ staff engineers. Knowing the design was due for the closing on Friday, Mary called Bill on Monday looking forthe pln, left a request oa his voice mail for 4 retar call, and shifted hor sights to another pressing project. Ou Friday moming, Leo, Mary's supervisor and a partner of XYZ, received a call from his old friend Ben, Idea’s project mian- ager, who was about to leave for the closing. He nervously asked ifthe critical preliminary design information was ready for pickup. Promising an immediate call back, Leo went to Mary's ‘office to check on the status of the work ony to find that she had not even started since she was stil waiting for Bills site plan. ‘When pressed by her boss, she admitted that she had been en grossed in other assignments, and had fergoten that she was wait- ing for Bill to respond. She was a litle surprised with Leo's reaction, after all, it wasn't her faut tha Bll had not retuned her cal, and in her mind, the clieat hai no right to be upset with XYZ. Leo retumed to his office to make the call that he Kaew ‘would end badly. AS expected, Ben was angry and vented his frustration at Leo and XYZ. He sought cut Bill, who reminded Ben that he had been out of town on assigament all week and had just returned on Thursday night. Bll didn’t think that Mary’s voice mail messaze sounded very urgent. The closing had to be postponed, and the delay ultimately resulted in a more expensive financing arrangement Tn an sttempt to talvage the situation, Leo promized Ben that Mary would work over the weckend (which didn’t plosse her since she hed t© cancel er visit t9 the beach) to complete the project On Monday, Leo personally delivered the plans to Ben ‘who, forthe fist time in the 42 years that they had known one another, did not come out to meet Leo and left word that he was to leave the package with the receptionist. Leo knew then that XYZ relationship with Ideas, Inc., would probably not survive this incident ‘Mary elt quite justified in her indignance. Why should she be held responsible for someone else's oversight? After all, she had asked for the information and ifthe client didn't care enough to call back, she certainly could aot be held responsible—ce could she? At practicing engineers, our daily accomplishments and coveral personal success are linked to the work of others. Most of the time, we are part of a project team and whether we agree oF rot, we will be personally evaluated based on the success of the project as a whole. Its simply not enough to be concerned only with one’s own culpability. As valuable members of a team, we are better served by a broader outlook. We must understand how cour work effets that of others and vice versa and pattern our behavior to help others and allow them to help us. The ultimate ‘goal is not to look good personally but to successfully complete the entire project. Always remember that a rising tide raises all boats, and the success of the eam will ultimately determine our ‘own success, It might not be our fault, but we will be better off if we make it partly our responsibility. Respect Lucy was given to us by a couple who had found her wandering, abandoned, and lost in their neighborhood. You would think that, the experience of being abandoned would have given her some serious trust issues, yel, when we saw her for the fist time, she ‘was friendly toa fault. From the heginaing, she loved to jump up cn anybody and furiously lick anything in sight. Soon after she ‘rived she met our eats, Salem and Tigee Lily. Lily is the oldest animal in our house and lke most cas, she maintains a sense of supzriority way Leyond ber actual value tothe family. She wants conaact with the humans only oa her terms (usually at feeding time) and doesn’t care to deal at all with the dogs. Lucy simply couldn't stind being ignored and decided that her play routine with Lily would involve feigned anger and a completely uncon- ‘incing grovl. Expecting the cat ‘o sun froma superior opponent, Lucy chased the cat for afew fet, then retumed to the starting point convinced that she had won the battle. This worked pretty well from the beginning with Salem (a younger and much more paranoid at) and 'm sure that Lucy felt it would also work with Lily. The frt few times, Lily simply ignored Lucy's advances. Son she became annoyed, and with one quick swipe of her sight paw, she sent Lucy yelping under the sofa. Locy immediately ‘gained a high respect for Lily and decided to leave her alone. { have observed a similar problem among some engineers Upon college graduation, they adopt an atitude of superionty and surogence toward other employees in their organizations. They seem to think that as professionals, they have a higher intinsic value than these in subordinate positions. After al, engineers are among the most highly compensated members of an organiza- tion's staff, and we all know that money defines worth. So, they 0 through their caeeers respecting only those individuals whorn they personally value (ie., they make more money) and show little of no respect 10 the others. I have seen this behavier exhib ited when they speak rudely toe receptionist, publically chastze 4 subordinate, and generally demand more special weament from everybody than they have a right t expect. In addition to being Doorish, this behavior is not very effective and isnot indicative of 1 good engineer. Consider the following truisms: + One's financial compensation is based on supply and demand and the ability to produce fees and is not indicative of the value of a person. Recertionists draftsmen, and secretaries are not inferior to engineers simply because they are not as highly compensated. ‘You never know how a pesos you disrespect today will ease you difficulty tomorrow. Life can be funny. Relatively low ‘evel employees end up owning their own companies. Employ es who aie weated badly can leave an orgarization and may end vp as key decision makers for local public agencies. Ihave seen this happen. ‘There is a clear, cynical reason to show respect, as described to me by an old friend: “Friends come and go, but enemies accumulate” Respecting others and their contribution is just the right thing to do. Forget about every other reason. Behaving in a civil ‘manner and showing respect is quite simply the way that one should always sot Part of becoming a good engines isto value the contributions of everyone with whem we work. This begins by showing everyone respect, which, by the way, will po a Tong way to earning their respect JOURNAL OF PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION AND PRACTICE © ASCE / JANUARY 2008 /15,‘Show Me the Money! We rescued Kira from the pounl when she was just a 6-week-old puppy. There were a lot of puppies in the pound that day and 2 lot ‘of people looking to adopt. [noticed that many of the cars in the parking lot were a lot nicer than ours. Clearly, a lot of these puppies were going to live in very nice homes — much larger and ‘optilent than ours. There was one litle pup. clearly the runt of the bunch, balled up and hiding in the comer Her tail had been stripped of its fur by the other dogs in her liter. She looked more like a possum than a dog. None of the people in the room seemed ‘co interested in this one. I guess she wasn’t up to the standards their affluence required. Naturally. my wife and | were immedi- ely drawn to her, and we chose her to be our Kira. I'm sure that ‘se deprived Kira of a more extravagant lifestyle. One of those cleanly pressed couples with a BMW, would have eventually taken her home as the puppy stock depleted. Instead, she rode homie in a 5-yeur-old minivan to our modest suburban home with the wooden-feaced yard. Certainly, she might have lived in niver surroundings, but I can’t imagine her life being any better. She gets to sleep in our bed, has free reign over the entire house and all the furniture, begs successfully at every meal and gets to chew ‘on anything that she wants. She is more a family member than a family pet. There is simply no place where she could be more loved. The way she meets me at the door every day afler work is clear proof that she is a pretty hoppy pup. | spend quite @ bit of time speaking to students at all levels: from elementary school to college. My presentations usually deal ‘withthe profession of engineering, and T emphasize the wonder of the fleld, describing how engineers are charged with tumning ideas into reality, I get pretty pumped up because 1 am truly excited bout the contributions that engineers make to our society. 50 1 ‘ty very hard to excite the kids and to make them understand the noble aspects of our profession. Most of the time I am disap- pointed when the very first question I get asked is, how much do engineers make? I suppose that with million-dollar athletes as role models and a television that constantly blares the materialistic lifestyle, we shouldn't be surprised that our children are abso- |utely consumed with the prospect of making money. However, the exclusive pursuit of wealth is generally unhealthy and not conducive to these trying to become good engineers. Attendance at engineering schools steadily decreases as bright young people purste fields that are more lucrative. Somewhere, we have failed asa profession, Of course, I'm not crazy. Engineers should be, as a rule, very well compensated. Our material reward is, ina healthy way, con= nected to our successful performance. Money serves a very useful purpose as a tangible recognition of excellence. However, when the pursuit of money becomes the sole driving force of our per- foomance, then we have strayed from the path of becoming good cengineers. As the Bible comments, money is the root of all sorts of evil. When pursuing only wealth, we tend to neglect the really ‘important facets of ur profession. At best, we lose the joy of creating things and solving problems, and at worst, we bend our ethics and technical competence. What a shame. I tell graduating students that selecting an organization with which 10 work should never be based solely on the best salary offer. Rather, | point them toa quote by Harvey Mackay from his bestselling book Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt (Mackay 1996). “Love what you do... do what you love ...and deliver more than you promise.” I usually add that they should do work that makes Uifference. Engineering is a noble profession and engineers are ‘among the mos’ respected of all professionals. We will be able to maintain this level of respect in our society, only if we keep our eyes off the scoreboard and on the bal. Communicate and Listen Bosh of our dogs drink from the same water tow! on the kitchen floor. Is a large bowl, but stil needs refilling atleast once each day, Filling the bowl is the job of our teenage son. so you can imagine that this job doesn't always get done on time. When the bout is empty, Lucy the cocker, will simply sit infront of it with 2 ad look on er face until someone notices her dilerama and refs the bow. Kira, on the other hand, i not nearly as patient I the bowl is empty and she is thirsty, she will begin to loudly scrape the empty bowl with hor paw and continues uniil someone fills he bow Athough Kira’s approach is very annoying, she has clearly leamed how to successfully communicate her needs to the hhumaas in the house. Being a good engineer requires that we adopt the condition of ‘bird soaring through the sky. In order to fy, the bird has 0 Beat equally with both wings. Successful engincets must also be able to metaphorically work both wings. As mentioned previowsl, gond engineers must be technically proficient (the first wing). However, getting the right answer is rot enough. A good engineer must also be able to effectively communicate the answer to those who ned to hear about it. The ability to communicate, both ver bully and in writing, constitutes the very important second wing. Equally important w communicating is listening. When Kira and Lucy want to, they listen carefully to the tone of voice and other noises. Every night !usualy sty up later than my wife and watch television, I sit on the sofa in the same place every night. ‘lier both dogs are sure that my wife is asleep in our bedroom, they come ito the family room, confirm that 1 am there, and retire to their respective favorite spots: Kira behind the rocking chair and Lucy at the foot of the sofa. They usually fall asleep pretty quickly (easy o tell from Kira’s deep breathing and Lucy's incessant snoring). Around midnight, I usually decide to head for the bedroom, and every night, on cue, both dogs immediately awaken and follow me to the bedroom. In their deep sleep, they recognize the familiar sound of me rising from the sofa and trot ting on to bed, They have an incredible ability 10 lien when, even without words, | am communicating my intentions to them. Tn the workplace, it is impossible 10 carry on conversations ‘with colleagues if you are not attuned to listening. Paying close attention to otbers isa sign of respect as well as the best way to gather information, f you do not listen. itis hard 10 now what is being asked of you. It is important to be able to communicate or respond on their teams instead of rambling on a prerehearsed speech. Engincers that tend to lock themselves in conversation will end to lock themselves out of success. Unfortunately, most colleges do not emphasize these topics in engineering curiculums. Therefore, we have the individual and corporate responsiblity (0 improve our own ability and that of ‘ur staff and to acquire and improve our communication and Iis- tening skis. I's rally very simple, if we just take the time to ‘work on it. Although some of us are more adept than others at these skis, they are definitely learned abilities. Every engineer, ‘expecially the good ones, will improve by working at it A Loyal Friend ‘There are many stories that describe the incredible loyalty of dogs. Dogs are the very epitome of leyaity; they define the con- 16 / JOURNAL OF PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION AND PRACTICE © ASCE / JANUARY 2004