Upload
others
View
9
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1
Improving Communication Skills
by Clifford Schwinger, P.E.The Harman Group, Structural Engineers
King of Prussia, Pa.
Tips for Structural Engineers from a
Structural Engineer
Structural Engineers Association of Ohio
Annual Conference Presentation
9/11/14
Why?
Good communication enhances the safety of the
structures we design.
2
3 4“A communication breakdown at an Ontario engineering firm contributed to flaws in an inspection that failed to detect weaknesses in a mall roof before it collapsed.” Engineering News Record 6/12/13
5“A communication breakdown at an Ontario engineering firm contributed to flaws in an inspection that failed to detect weaknesses in a mall roof before it collapsed.” Engineering News Record 6/12/13
6
Quebec bridge collapse – August 1907
2
7Why?
8
Easier to prevent problems than solve them
Differentiate yourself from your competition
Reduce RFI’s and change orders
Enhance your career
Enhance your firm’s reputation
Improve efficiency
Make your job easier
Personality
Filters
Mitigated speech
Confrontation
Listening & speaking
Inter=office communication
Contract documents
9
x
To be discussed,
Personality style
10
Personality is the outlook and attitude by which we filter everything.
Personality dictates our response pattern when interacting with others.
11
Personality
Everyone has a “personality style”
Personality tests help us to understand our natural style
The DiSC Assessment is a tool that evaluates personality style
12
Personality
3
DiSC Assessment13
DominanceInfluenceSteadinessConscientious
Four personality styles:
DiSC Assessment14
Dominance
Confident, wants results, sees big picture, wants the bottom line (leader)
DiSC Assessment15
Influence
Optimistic, persuasive, relationship oriented, enthusiastic (people person)
DiSC Assessment16
Steadiness
Cooperative, sincere, dependable, calm, humble (team player)
DiSC Assessment17
Conscientious
Accurate, detail focused, independent, objective, competent (detail oriented)
Personality18
Personality and stress
When stressed, we revert to our core personality
4
Personality19
Understand your strengths and weaknesses
Cwill help you better work with them
Understand the personalities of those with whom you work
You can’t change who you are (but you can adjust)
Work to leverage your strengths
Filters
20
Filters
We filter what we say
We filter what we hear
21
Filters22
Filters23
Filters
Understand how you filter the world
Understand how others filter the world
24
5
Filters
Communicate clearly to pass through the filters.
Failure to clearly pass your message through the filters will distort what you are trying to say
25
Mitigated speech
26
x
Mitigated speech
Indirect speech which must be interpreted.
Used to avoid direct communication.
27
Learn to detect mitigated speech.
Do you use mitigated speech?
Mitigated speech28
Confrontation
29Confrontation
30
Problems will not go away by avoiding them
Confrontation stylesAggression
Avoidance
Acquiescence
Deal with problems immediately (when they are small)
Pick up the phone to prevent small problems from festering
6
Communication
31
x
One=third listening
One=third listening to what is not said
One=third speaking
32
Communication is,
Master the art of listening
33Listening
34
Listen to your client
Understand their goals
Listen to what is said and what is not said
No news is not necessarily good news
Listen for mitigated speech
Body language
Understand their bias
Understand their bias
Conversation with a fabricator,
“Don’t use HSS’s. They just went up $70 / ton.”
35
Speaking(Less is more)
36
7
Speaking
Be clear (avoid mitigated speech)
Can what you say be misinterpreted?
Be concise (do not pontificate)
Talking “with” versus conversing “at”
Make eye contact
37
Before speaking or writing, ask
yourself this,
38Speaking
Before speaking or writing, ask
yourself this,
Does anyone care?
39Speaking
“Pour additional concrete to achieve flat and level slabs.”
40Speaking
“Pour additional concrete to achieve flat and level slabs.”
41Speaking
= What is “flat”?= What is “level”?= Ff
= FL
= ACI 117= What is the client’s expectation?
Speaking42
“I need the slab edge dimensions.”
8
Speaking43
“I need the slab edge dimensions by the end of day next Monday 3/31 in order to issue 100% complete documents by 4/7.”
Are they listening?
Is your message clear?
Are they hearing you?
Speak to the audience
44
Speaking
Written communication
Learn to write
Practice makes perfect
Do not pontificate
Write to the audience
Allow simmer time
Proof read (preferably by someone else)
45Written communication
46
Many good engineers cannot write.avoid extra words put what you wrote aside and allow it to simmer.Poorly written reports and letters reflect poorly on you as an engineer.
Written communication
Communicate with the thought that lawyers may eventually be reading your letter, email or drawings.
47Written communication
48
“PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REINFORCING
STEEL AS REQUIRED TO MEET THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE BUILDING CODE.”
This is not clear communication as to your design intent,
9
Written communication49
Nor is this,
“AVOID ONE)SIDED CONNECTIONS IF
POSSIBLE AND DO NOT USE FOR BEAMS
DEEPER THAN 18”. IF IT IS NECESSARY
TO USE A ONE)SIDED CONNECTION, THIS
CONNECTION SHALL BE DESIGNED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE AISC MANUAL.”
50
Email alone is not communicationEmail does not capture tone
Emails are often not immediately read
Follow=up emails with a phone call or call and follow up with an email
Avoid email “battles” (pick up the phone)
Proof read before sending
51
Coordination with other consultants
52
Coordination with others53
Coordination with others
Don’t wait for others to initiate project coordination
54
10
Inter=office communication
55 Inter=office communication
Is communication encouraged?=Are young engineers encouraged to ask questions, and offers suggestions?=Does everyone feel as they are part of the team?=Do experienced engineers ask younger engineers for their ideas
Formal procedures (Project Delivery System)
Checklists, forms, correspondence templates, scheduled meetings, quality assurance reviews, sign=off sheets
56
The Contract Documents
57 Structural Drawings
The structural drawings (or BIM model) are the means by which we communicate design intent
The structural drawings must be,Consistent
Concise
Clear
Complete
Correct
Coordinated
In=house Quality Assurance review (second set of eyes)
58
Structural Drawings 59Structural Drawings
60
11
Structural Drawings61
Structural Drawings62
Clearly communicate connection design requirements to the fabricator
Show the reactions
Provide high=quality, designable concept connection details as required
Structural Drawings
Look for,
MistakesMissing informationConflictsAmbiguity
63 Structural Drawings
Everyone who reads your drawings is not a structural engineer.
64
= Everyone has a personality style
= We all filter what we say and hear
= All communication is filtered at least twice
= Beware of mitigated speech
= Communicate clearly & concisely
= Foster communication in your office
= Master the art of listening
= Good communication can,= Make buildings safer= Prevent problems= Make your job easier
65Summary
Questions?
Thank you!
Clifford Schwinger, P.E.The Harman Group, Structural Engineers
King of Prussia, Pa. 601=337=3360