What does it actually mean to have an engineer mindset and approach life like an engineer?

Even as an engineer myself, I’ve recently been trying to better understand and define how engineers actually perceive things. What are the core behaviors that characterize an engineer’s thinking?

Awareness is one of the first steps toward improvement, so understanding this will not only help us engineers improve, but also others wanting to think more like an engineer.

Here’s six concepts that will help you develop an engineer mindset.

 

1. Become a Problem Solver

Engineers really are expert problem solvers – this is what they get paid to do.

When something is “engineered” you know that a professional has scientifically analyzed all possible options and arrived at a purposeful solution based on logic.

This is the first concept in understanding how engineers think.

How to become a great problem solver is a deeper subject for another post, but engineers start by:

1. 1. First fully defining the problem and all constraints associated with it.
   2. Then, begin making a list of solutions and select the best one based on an analysis process.
   3. Lastly, see how the solution performs and make adjustments.

These three steps summarize the whole basis of engineering and is actually is officially known as the “engineering process.”

Engineers also problem solve using something called an engineering design triangle.

This is where you select a design or solution based on making something cheap, fast, or high quality (the three sides of the triangle.) The trick is you can only chose 2 of the 3!

This means you can make something cheap and fast, for example, but it won’t be of good quality. Or you could make something cheap and high quality, but it probably will not be made fast.

Start approaching life as a problem solver and a helper, choosing solutions based on practicality, performance, and cost.

 

2. Seek Definition and Structure

Engineers love to see things in “black and white,” which means that they like things fully defined and not open-ended or subject to interpretation.

This tendency may be due to the fact that the personality types that favor definition and structure end up selecting engineering as a career, but it’s also because fully defining things is crucial for proper problem solving and understanding how things work.

Engineering itself, at its core, is about fully defining something – taking sometimes abstract or vague concepts and shining light on them, making them a reality; making the unknown known.

This is why engineers tend to be really curious and ask a lot of questions, which is one of the many traits that engineers have.

Start defining things as concretely as possible.

 

3. Follow a Process

Since engineers love structure, they typically follow some sort of process, or roadmap, to achieve a desired result, rather than just carelessly forging out into the unknown.

Remember the aforementioned “engineering process?”

Processes are beneficial because they define certain steps within a specific sequence to get from point A to point B, helping engineers complete tasks more safely and efficiently.

Following a process not only rules out unworkable solutions that would just waste time and money, but it helps engineers not forget crucial things that could cause errors, safety concerns, or even injuries.

If a process for completion is unknown, an engineer will research all possible pathways and create a process based on some sort of logic or practical reasoning.

Begin to visualize approaching tasks using some sort of process with steps and a sequence.

 

4. Get Good at Visualization

Engineers are adept at dealing within the tangible, physical realm.

They can identify and manifest the best possible physical solutions for a desired outcome.

Thus, an engineer must be highly skilled at visualizing things in three dimensions, specifically regarding how things work and how they will be assembled.

Visualizing in 3D helps engineers plan and see issues that will arise during operation of a physical product or process, identifying problems and design constraints.

Seeing Things as Systems

In addition to visualizing things physically, engineers must also be able to separate a complex system into several different sub-systems, seeing them both as operating independently and also together.

For example, noticing that the engine coolant system in your car is an independent system, but interfaces with other systems, such the engine crankshaft, fan, and cabin air conditioning.

Observation

Engineers tend to be able to intake a large amount of visual information at one time since they are naturally curious.

Becoming an expert problem solver and coming up with great solutions is a result of being really good defining problems, which starts with expert observation.

Work on visualizing things in 3D, seeing things in terms of a system, and observe as much detail as you can.

 

5. Make Decisions, and Design Based on Logic

Engineering is a scientific and mathematics based discipline because most decision making must be backed up by analysis.

When people spend a lot of money to create, design, and build something, they want to know that it was created professionally, in the best possible way, or “engineered.”

With these expectations comes great responsibility and accountability for your outcomes and actions.

Thus, engineers must be prepared to have a competent answer when their judgement is questioned.

Engineers can NEVER SAY “I don’t know” when questioned!

Making decisions based on logic and analysis helps an engineer back up their decisions with data and reasoning rather than just from emotion or chance.

Everything is Deliberate

Because of this responsibility, almost everything an engineer does (typically within their whole life) tends to be deliberate.

We seem to always have a reason or purpose for any action, otherwise it feels negligent, or irresponsible (yeah, we’re typically OCD!)

Start making decisions based on some sort of logic or reasoning. Always have an answer.

 

6. Iterate – Refine

A crucial, and sometimes forgotten aspect of engineering is to refine things one a solution has been implemented.

Engineers observe the outcome of a solution and continue to make it work better and better, a process of continuous improvement.

They test things out and ask the questions about how a solution is performing.

Sometimes only through building and trying something can you ultimately identify the real problems and solutions.

Always iterate, refine, and improve a solution.

 

Conclusion

This article hopefully shed some light on what it means to think like an engineer, listing six behaviors and habits that characterize the core of an engineer’s mindset:

1. Become expert problem solver
2. Seek definition and structure
3. Follow a process
4. Get good at visualization
5. Make decisions based on logic
6. Iterate, refine and seek to constantly improve

Learning and practicing these skills not only can help new engineers better understand their profession and improve, but can also help non-engineering types think more like an engineer.

Assimilating these engineering aspects into my entire lifestyle has really helped me become more productive, organized, and prepared for life’s fun challenges.

Take an engineer’s approach to all aspects of your life and you’ll soon see a positive difference.