Engineers are great problem solvers and therefore make excellent managers. But managers need more than just technical skills. Find out here what the nine most important competences of managers are - and how engineers can learn these skills.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Why companies should integrate more engineers into leadership positions

More and more companies are looking for managers with a high level of technical understanding. Engineers are particularly suitable for this. They have problem-solving skills and are therefore very valuable for strategic decisions.

Another advantage: technicians and engineers often enjoy a high level of trust in teams and companies working on technical tasks. This can be a great advantage when it comes to managing and motivating employees - an advantage that managers with a different technical background do not have. 

Of course, the technical expertise of technicians also means that they can make technically sound decisions. And especially in times of digitalisation, a strong technical understanding at management level is a decisive advantage. 

But one thing is clear: technical expertise alone is not enough to be able to lead teams confidently as a manager. Being a boss requires a whole range of specific skills. The good news is that these management skills can be learnt in a targeted manner - by engineers and technicians too, of course!

The nine most important management skills for engineers - and how they can develop them

What soft skills does a successful manager need? Basically, they are always the same - regardless of the company or industry. The nine most important soft skills for engineers who want to take a seat in the boss's chair are as follows: 

1. Strong communication skills
   An essential leadership skill is strong, honest and open communication - both with the team and with other managers.
   
2. Independent way of working
   As a boss, you should always know what to do and how to do it. After all, you have the final say and cannot or should not constantly turn to your superior for help.
   
3. Skills as a motivator
   A leader must be able to motivate his team. A motivated team leads to success; an unmotivated team can jeopardise the company's performance.
   
4. Team player
   A good manager must also be a team player. Maintaining this balance is not that easy.
   
5. Customer orientation
   As a boss, you work on two fronts: Internally with the team and externally with the customers. It is therefore essential to be able to work in a customer- and service-orientated way.
   
6. Giving and accepting feedback
   Giving constructive feedback to the team is one thing - accepting feedback from the team is another. As managers, technicians and engineers must be able to accept and implement feedback for the good of the team and the entire organisation
   
7. Assertiveness
   As a boss, you have to be able to have the last word and assert yourself. Clear communication plays an important role in this.
   
8. Being able to delegate tasks
   It sounds simple, but it's not: many bosses find it difficult to hand over tasks. Yet this is an essential part of being a boss. Because you can't do everything yourself. To be able to delegate tasks with confidence, as a boss, you need to be able to develop trust in the abilities of your team.
   
9. Analytical thinking
   A manager must have a high level of analytical ability. As a rule, this is the strength of engineers and technicians, which is why they are particularly well suited to management tasks.

Where can engineers learn the most important leadership skills?

There are numerous courses and books that teach precisely these skills. These skills can also be learnt within the company, e.g. as part of further training courses. Providers of such courses include the IHK Centre for Continuing EducationTraining courses of the haufe academy. The website kursfinder.de also offers a good overview of further training courses for managers. 

From engineer to manager - that's what matters

These nine skills are essential for managers, so that the transition from technician to management level works out, the company must of course also play its part and help the technicians and engineers as much as possible to make the step-up to management level.

This is exactly what we can support you with. If you have any questions about engineers as managers, please contact our team. As a personnel service provider with over 30 years of experience, we are at your side!

Are you looking for engineers for your project? At Zeitarbeit International, we place experienced engineers and technicians from various specialist areas from abroad: mechanical engineers, safety engineers, system engineers, chemical engineers, technical draughtsman, industrial engineers and more.