TECC 019: The Engineering Career Coach Podcast – How to Work Smarter as an Engineer by Utilizing Both Sides of Your Brain

Image by kjpargeter on Freepik In this session of The Engineering Career Coach Podcast, I interview Stu Walesh, PE, an independent consultant who provides management, engineering, and education/training services to private, public, academic, and volunteer organizations. Our discussion is focused on how engineers can utilize the right sides of their brains to become better rounded. The content comes from a book Stu is currently writing entitled Creativity and Innovation for Engineers, which will be published by Pearson Prentice Hall. Most engineers lean heavily on the left (or analytical) side of the brain. During this session, Stu explains why it is important to also utilize the right (or creative) side of the brain and gives tips for doing so. “Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!” – Dr. Seuss The career-changing tip at the end of the show will discuss four “C”s to help you make change and create new habits: competence, communication, conscience, and creativity. Listen to this session and learn: How engineers can use neuroscience to work smarter Ways to be more effective as an engineer, NOT just more efficient How to be innovative as an engineer and how this can help you add value to what you do How to be efficient, effective, and innovative all at the same time Specific tools that you can use to work smarter, including one called “borrowing brilliance,” which allows you to evaluate what you are doing and how to improve it How to use mind mapping to engage both hemispheres of the brain How to replace bad habits with good ones Resources and links mentioned in this session include: Free Resources for Engineers Institute for Engineering Career Development Helping You Engineer Your Future Mind-Mapping Tool  Books Mentioned Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, by Betty Edwards The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less, by Richard Koch A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, by Daniel Pink Borrowing Brilliance: The Six Steps to Business Innovation by Building on the Ideas of Others, by David Kord Murray Click Here for Session #19 Transcription How Do You Utilize the Right Side of the Brain? I would love to hear from you as to how you utilize the creative side of your brain. How are you innovative? Please leave your comments in the section below. If you enjoyed this post, please consider downloading our free list of 33 Productivity Routines of Top Engineering Executives. Click the button below to download. Download the Productivity Routines To your success, Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP Engineering Management Institute Author of Engineer Your Own Success