Consulting-Specifying Engineer - March 2008 - (Page 45)

colleagues, and the profession. Fire protection engineers are expected to act in accordance with this code and all applicable laws and actively encourage others to do so.” Fire protection engineers should be familiar with the “Canon of Ethics” and conduct themselves consistently in accordance with the code of ethics. It is inevitable that one will be faced with ethical decisions during the course of one’s career. The questions are rarely black and white and require thoughtful consideration. The counsel and advice of a mentor in these situations can be invaluable. Client service and interpersonal skills An area that doesn’t get much discussion in the engineering community is that of dealing with clients or the development of interpersonal skills. This area doesn’t receive attention in the classroom. Development of interpersonal skills and the ability to successfully interact with clients and colleagues is a significant benefit to the individual in propelling their career. We all know some engineers who are difficult to work with. They may be very bright and knowledgeable, but their communica- ceived and their ability to be successful. The need to be able to communicate ideas in a concise and convincing manner is criti- Mentors need to teach client service and interpersonal skills because the area isn’t covered in the classroom. tion styles or behaviors may put us off or turn off a client. Seldom do their careers develop as successfully as equally talented technical people who have soft skills. There are few positions in fire protection engineering where one doesn’t have to interact with others. Clients can be external or internal to the organization. The internal clients often are pushed to the back burner. Keeping a client focus can be difficult and challenging at times, but it is imperative in most fire protection engineering positions. The ability to interact in a positive manner even during times of disagreement can make a huge difference in how a person is percal. Time spent in the development of communication skills is a great investment. Mentors can play the role of an impartial third party to help an individual understand how they are perceived. The key to success is the willingness of the person being mentored to accept constructive criticism. Grill is the immediate past president of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, and is a trustee on the Board Trustees of the Fire Protection Research Foundation. He also is chair of NFPA 72 Technical Committee on Notification Appliance, and is a member of CSE’s editorial advisory board.

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Consulting-Specifying Engineer - March 2008

Consulting-Specifying Engineer - March 2008 Contents Viewpoint Letters News M/E Roundtable Grade A HVAC When UPS and Gensets Have Issues Ignite Opportunities To Mentor Fire Protection Engineers Cooling People, Not Buildings Codes & Standards Case Study New Products Equipment Lifecycles Advertiser Index Green Space Pure Power Supplement Edison Institute Honors Recovery Efforts Canada Launches Clean Energy Software Climate Change Drives Increased Investment Critical Power for R&D Heating Calculations for Electrical Duct Bank Submetering for Energy Profiling New Products

Consulting-Specifying Engineer - March 2008

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