October 2024 Issue
A monthly forum to share diversity, equity, and inclusion resources.
Welcome to the next installment of Read.Watch.Listen. This month, in tune with the theme of National Learning and Development Month, we are sharing resources that focus on life-long learning and professional development and the importance of these topics on our AEC careers. For those involved in developing training sessions for their firms, this article outlines 10 key principles and best practices of adult learning theory. Life-long learning is not only beneficial to employees but also to firms as well. Korn Ferry has recently released a report underscoring the business case for encouraging continuous learning for workers in various industries and to address the $8.5 trillion talent shortage from millions of jobs going “unfilled because there aren’t enough skilled workers” in 2030. However, in order to provide effective training to employees, firms may look at adopting skills-based learning, which “recognizes that each employee has unique strengths and needs” by focusing on creating individual educational experiences and targeting each employee’s skill gap so employees can develop the required skills to do their jobs more effectively.
We’re also celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15th to October 15th. Check out our previous post here to learn more!
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Read.Watch.Listen is a monthly forum hosted by the NCSEA SE3 Committee to share and promote conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion within the structural engineering profession. Each month, we will curate a series of articles, audio-visual and digital media to facilitate self-education in matters that affect our professional practice as structural engineers. Whether you choose to read, watch, or listen (or all three!), we hope you will join us in this important conversation. Missed the previous issue? Check out the NCSEA SE3 Committee News and Publication page.
Share your thoughts and/or recommended resources for the next issue at ncsea@ncsea.com.
Why “Wisdom Work” Is the New “Knowledge Work” - HBR
Chip Conley, former Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy at Airbnb, shares how even though workplaces today are evolving and becoming more modernized, there is a vital need to find ways for older and younger employees to work together. He discusses the outdated term of knowledge work and encourages companies and employers to, instead, focus on wisdom work in their workplaces. This places an emphasis on the invaluable wisdom that can be drawn from older generations and passed along to younger team members to aid in their growth. Age diversification within an organization is beneficial for all, and Chip stresses the value of allowing employees of different generations to work together.
Originally published August 02, 2024; Estimated Read Time - 10 min
Tips to Improve in-House Training for Civil Engineers - Engineering Management Institute
Michael Dooley, P.E., LEED AP, Principal at Bayer Becker shares five tips for improving in-house training at civil engineering firms. (1) Do your homework. Ask supervisors what skills the staff are missing and ask staff what skills they want to learn. (2) Find the balance between technical and human side. Technical knowledge is important, but communication and people skills are essential skills for engineers. (3) Diversify thought and experience to develop and teach training. Ensure that many voices are represented during the training. (4) Emphasize storytelling in training. (5) Rinse and repeat. Training should be an ongoing part of your company culture. Engineering Management Institute also offers training programs on project management, people skills, business development skills.
Originally aired Aug 25, 2021; 00:37:05
Having a Common Management Language & The "No-drama Feedback Model" - Modern People Leader
Management training is one type of training that is requested quite often across our industry. What is important to capture in this type of training? How do you make the business case for your company to offer the training? Daniel and Stephen Huerta of the Modern People Leader podcast interview Lindsey Nehls, co-founder of Elevate Leadership (a company that creates manager training for other companies), in this episode. They talk about the importance of having a common management language, the 70:20:10 rule for learning (70% is learned by doing, 20% is learned from others, and 10% is learned from a book or class), changing behaviors in your company, and the “no drama feedback model”. If you don’t have time for the full episode, we recommend you listen from about minute 19 to minute 33 for the bulk of the discussion on implementing manager training.
Originally posted March 19, 2024; 01:00:00
This article was originally published in the October 2024 issue of NCSEA's Structural Connection newsletter. For more information, check out NCSEA's DEI Resources.