Engineering Reflective Journal

This reflective journal entry details experiences in team leadership, highlighting challenges encountered and strategies employed to overcome them. The author reflects on personal strengths and weaknesses, particularly in communication, coordination, and problem-solving. Areas for improvement are identified, focusing on increased collaboration, research, and team organization. A career plan is outlined, emphasizing a progression from supervision to design, management, and consultancy roles, with a focus on leveraging developed skills in coordination and time management.

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Reflection writing
Different leadership qualities are expected at any level. I was once charged in leading a
team to accomplish a task within a short duration at workplace. In this situation, I was given a
short notice that the tasks where critical and would enhance the operation of the company to
deliver to our client. Different processing functions were held at a bay because of these tasks and
it required quick deliver (Arciszewski, 2016). I was given a team of 10 members who were
supposed to coordinate and ensure that these tasks were accomplished. In the process, I noticed
two of the members were not free to share their knowledge on the given tasks although they were
conversant with the process and task. Their uncooperative behavior meant that delay may be
experienced in delivery if these tasks. As the main supervisor and leader of the team, I had to
organize a short meeting and ensure that the members understood we were a team, which had a
similar goal. As the leader, I had to bear the blame since the whole team relied on me for
guidance on the delivery. Although the two members should have had the blame, I had to take
control as a lead party and ensure that they deliver and assist other members. This would ensure
that timely completion of the tasks at hand is done. This was a similar situation which is had
encountered some times back at another workplace. At the place, the coordination of the team
was difficult since some people were unable to coordinate with others and help them in
accomplishing of the set tasks (Haynes, & Haynes, 2009). This was able to drag the delivery
process back. At this, I was aware of the consequence from experience and I was charged to take
the charge and solve the problem to ensure that I will be able to deliver with the team provided.
Communication with the team and coordinating on what they are doing are some of the key
activities, which I have to enhance and ensure they deliver. Although the lack of coordination is
their personal weakness, it can be resolved through proper communication (Richman, 2012). In

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order to achieve this, I would use my past experience to understand the team members and
understand their weaknesses. This will ensure that I provide a proper communication channel to
the team and ensure they understand what is expected.
Part 2
Making a good engineer requires coordination with others in order to solve engineering
problems. In this, I believe I need to involve other people more in problem solving whenever I
need help. This can help to structure a quick way to come up with solutions whenever there is
need to structure a way forward. Lack of trust and self-belief are some of the key factors, which
hinder my coordination factors. The self-belief makes me believe that I can provide a perfect
solution to the problem (Mersino, 2007). Enhancing this will ensure that I involve others in
problem solving process. Another key area I need to work on is research area. Different
technologies are enhancing problem solving in engineering. The solving of problem requires the
new technologies to enhance the economic and timeline of solving the problems. Enhancing
research aspect ensures that execution of duties is done at the right time. Proper team
organization is another factor which I need to organize to become a better engineer. Engineers
always work in teams to accomplish the different tasks (Wellington, & Foster, 2009). Proper
organization leads to the success of the tasks and with this I think I will be able to deliver as an
engineer.
On time management, I think I do it to the best. I always believe that the delivery of the
projects is able to depend on how well one is able to manage the time available and organizing
the activities based on time available (Chou, 2013). Proper planning and coordination of
activities are the best behaviors, which are, apply in time management. Proper planning ensures

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that there is a strategic delivery plan according to the time available. This makes sure that
activities are able to get allocate proper time for their execution. Unclear organization of
activities is Tue worst time management behavior I have ever experience. This leads to
unimportant activities taking a lot of time while the important one get less time for
accomplishments.
Career plan
I would like to start the career at a supervision level. This will ensure that I understand
different tasks on the field. Then I will move to design department and ensure is understand the
design aspects and engineering concepts (Charney, 2006). Later I will move to the management
level and later to the consultancy level. I would like to work on consultant and management
companies at different level. At these companies, I would like to work like the design engineers
and project management team. Coordination and time management skills will be key in delivery
at these levels. I need to understand others at these levels in order to enhance my skills at these
levels.

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References
ARCISZEWSKI, T. (2016). Inventive Engineering: Knowledge and Skills for Creative
Engineers. Boca Raton, CRC Press. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?
p=4742813.
CHARNEY, C. (2006). The leader's tool kit: hundreds of tips and techniques for developing the
skills you need. New York, AMACOM. http://www.books24x7.com/marc.asp?bookid=11932.
CHOU, W. (2013). Fast-tracking your career: soft skills for engineering and IT professionals.
Hoboken, N.J., Wiley. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1211853.
HAYNES, M. E., & HAYNES, M. E. (2009). Meeting skills for leaders: make meetings more
productive. [Rochester, N.Y.], Axzo Press. http://www.aspresolver.com/aspresolver.asp?
BIZP;2447243.
MERSINO, A. C. (2007). Emotional intelligence for project managers: the people skills you
need to achieve outstanding results. New York, American Management Association.
http://www.books24x7.com/marc.asp?bookid=19346.
RICHMAN, L. L. (2012). Improving your project management skills. New York, American
Management Association. http://www.aspresolver.com/aspresolver.asp?BIZP;2647818.
WELLINGTON, P., & FOSTER, N. (2009). Effective team leadership for engineers. Stevenage,
Institution of Engineering and Technology. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?
p=471716.