Engineer Audience

Quickly, let me write:

• Not all engineers are the same and there are some that will not fit this mold.
• Engineers are not bad and we need them.
• Thinking like an engineer is wonderful (especially if you are an engineer).
• I know that I am not qualified to speak about engineers in the engineer's opinion, so let it be known that I am speaking as an observer of engineers and realize that I cannot speak to the inner workings of the engineeer.
• I know that, without much proof, most of this has already been dismissed.
  
• Some of my best friends are engineers.
  

Need I say much more (smile!).  Engineers love disclaimers.  Engineers are very specific.  Engineers don't like to be wrong.  Engineers are professionals who generally believe they are understanding  you clearly, even if you are speaking their language.  Engineers rework everything, re-decide (I know it is a new word) everything, redo everything and, to the outsider, often complicate everything.  No decision is final - ever - I think - well maybe some are final - but if we find a better way...

Engineers talk much if they are engineering.  Engineers speak little at other times unless they are telling "funny" engineering jokes that the "commoner doesn't understand."  Engineers think about the physics of opening a bottle of wine when they are at a party.  Engineers think too much in the "commoner's" opinion.  Engineers believe there are commoners.  Engineers can be driven insane by emotional changing of the focus of a conversation or argument.

Despite all of this - engineers are essential for the world, for the Body and for life.  People who think the way engineers think are critical to our success as a society.  The Elder Body at our church has lost both of its engineer types to too much thinking and suffers a lack of that style of person.  God will supply another but they don't realize - that no matter how frustrating it is for them to work with non-engineers or to struggle with being wrong at times or working outside of their box -  they are incredibly valuable.

The engineering audience is the same type of people as real engineers.  They are knowledgable, thinkers, intense, often not good at socializing, never satisfied with a solution, always looking for a better way types of people. The teacher who wishes to teach engineers will do well to:

• Not read into their quiteness, scowls, rapid note taking or confused looks.  These are natural outflows of the engineering mind and life.  They do not indicate problems but processing.
•  Patiently wait through the pauses, reflections and troubled parsing of thoughts for the golden truth that may be found within.
• Exploit the well placed logical (not emotional) argument.
• Wait through swings of emotions when the audience is in unfamiliar waters because it is hard for engineers not to have their feet on the ground.
• Think and answer questions logically and without too much passion.
• Accept that the teaching, the answer, the process and life will never be good enough.
• Prepare as a leader to wish that the audience could be happier with things in their own lives.
• Learn to prepare and present like an engineer with method, structure, analysis and conclusions.  Say what needs to be said and little more.
  
• Walk slowly with the audience because the acceptance of teaching and truths will be a slower process.
  

To alienate the engineering audience once is to most likely alienate them for a long period of time since they draw solid conclusions.  However, engineers are open to new conclusions if new empirical, logical evidence is given to restart the thinking process.  Probably the greatest truth about the engineering audience is that by the nature of their thinking process they are rarely sure of themselves at a personal level and often suffer from insecurity.  Embracing this truth and adjusting teaching style can exponetially improve the odds that the engineering audience will hear, validate and accept the truths that need to be taught.

It is so important that we understand the audiences that we teach.  In this series, we are using normal stages of human life, society and growth to help us identify, understand and target our audiences as we teach.  If you know a teacher, leader or speaker, invite them to join us daily here at dougburrier.com.  The rest of the articles in this series can be found using the Navigation Link "Teaching - Art and Call" to the right of this article.