The guaranteed path to engineering expertise

I started writing this piece while mentoring at a Med-Tech hackathon. And that's what gave me the idea of this post. The guaranteed way to become a better engineer. Read on and learn more.

It obviously is good to explicitly understand the attributes of the expert engineer. Once you can name these things and describe them, you can focus on improving them in yourself.

But, there is a way you can improve your engineering skills without even knowing what they are.

The protege effect.

The protege effect is likely something you have experienced in the past or heard people talk about. It is where the act of teaching something helps you better understand it.

At this hackathon, participants need to come up with a medical focused idea that is related to data (potentially using AI). The idea should be valued enough that someone would pay for it if it were implemented as a product.

Within this context, I have been talking more about focusing on the task that the idea will make easier, or even eliminate. This implicitly uses my engineering attributes like framing and systemic thinking - I've noticed that any first principles issues are overcome by the participants with relative ease. I am explicitly talking about outcome driven innovation a lot - simply because participants like these (they are mostly undergrads) are more solution focused.  And I need to bring them back to thinking about the task that they are making easier - so people see value in it.

I have been reminded, by recalling what I have learned in the past as I explain it to others, the importance of understanding how well a task is currently served and how important it. By understanding this balance, you can better frame the problem (and solution to pursue).

Now, if I am to confront a related scenario in my day job, I will be better able to recall this perspective so I can use it to inform the approach chosen. It might be for me explicitly and solely, or, it might be for a team, or, even for a colleague who is just talking to me about something they are working on.

Long story short - being a mentor at this hackathon has maintained and improved my engineering expertise (this time with regards to outcome driven innovation).

If you get a chance to mentor in something like a hackathon, then I suggest you take advantage of this - and fully commit (I am here for the whole weekend). I am a natural teacher so I enjoy these regardless. If you are not a natural teacher, then attend for the engineering skill enhancement. And also, the networking benefits (I have just boosted my network with some very interesting people), workshops (I have learned about about efficient data use and ethics), and presentations (I have learned about a great new health app that cover a condition that regularly afflicts me). Winning all over.

You do also have other options though.

I have tutored high school students (helping me recall fundamental mathematics) and I have taught in academia (so I have been able to improve my understanding numerous aspects of engineering).

Therefore, consider doing some part time work as a tutor or offering your skills to universities to help with their teaching.

The reason why these both help, along with the benefits that come from explaining a concept is this fact: the fear of not knowing an answer when you are expected to be the expert is far greater than the fear of failing any exam. This fear motivates you to learn much more deeply and broadly - you will be amazed at how your expertise improves.

Happy mentoring!