mentoring - Mentoring Blog

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 1:33 PM

Develop These Traits

Engineers are known for having certain traits. They are often viewed as: Curious; Logical; Able to concentrate; Respectful of intelligence; Demanding high ethical standards; Reserved and having poor social skills; Desiring structure and order; Somewhat...

Posted by Christian Knutson, P.E., PMP | 1 comment(s)

Filed under: mentoring, professionalism, goals, performance, work ethic

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 1:19 PM

Attitude is Everything

There are a lot of variables that go into determining whether we’ll successfully bring our goals and aspirations into existence. However, I only count one of them as the quintessential element that must be present to ensure success: a good attitude...

Posted by Christian Knutson, P.E., PMP | with no comments

Filed under: mentoring, communication, performance

Friday, December 16, 2011 9:54 AM

Appearance Does Count

Regardless of how you want to slice it, your appearance plays a part in how you are received by those looking at you. I realize this may be a taboo topic, but I’ll venture into it nonetheless. In your business, the business of life or career, how...

Posted by Christian Knutson, P.E., PMP | with no comments

Filed under: mentoring, professionalism

Friday, December 09, 2011 1:59 PM

How a Mentoring Relationship Can Fail

By Bernie Berson, P.E., F.NSPE While mentoring is widely recognized as a valuable career asset for mentees and mentors alike, there are several potentially negative factors that can diminish or actually destroy the relationship. Normally, the problematic...

Posted by Bernard Berson, P.E., F.NSPE | 1 comment(s)

Filed under: mentoring

Thursday, December 01, 2011 12:06 PM

Supporting Your Boss

Unless you’re self-employed, you have a boss. Perhaps no other relationship is more important to get right than the one you hold with your boss. This is the person who will give you tasks, give you direction, and in the end give you performance...

Posted by Christian Knutson, P.E., PMP | with no comments

Filed under: mentoring, performance, work ethic, employment, career

Tuesday, November 22, 2011 10:52 AM

E-mail Etiquette

An effective skill in any undertaking, well-honed e-mail etiquette is vitally important to the engineer. By the nature of our work, we communicate with many people every day. It’s a necessity for proceeding forward on a design, securing approval...

Posted by Christian Knutson, P.E., PMP | with no comments

Filed under: mentoring, e-mail, communication

Wednesday, November 02, 2011 8:27 AM

Creating Realistic Expectations

Entering into a mentoring relationship, like embarking on a new goal or learning a new skill, requires realistic expectations. Too often the relationship starts without any expectations being established, leading to frustration on both the part of the...

Posted by Christian Knutson, P.E., PMP | with no comments

Filed under: mentoring

Wednesday, October 26, 2011 11:15 AM

Taking Feedback Constructively

By Christian Knutson, P.E. When you enter into a mentoring relationship you do so for self-improvement and to get another point of view. As part of the relationship, you and your mentor will analyze your thinking, planning, and activities as a means to...