When you discover an error in your design, what do you do? The reasonable response is to first inform your boss. However, while it would be nice if apologizing for the mistake was all you needed to do in these situations to make things right again, in reality, the job doesn’t end there─you will always be required to implement some kind of solution, or otherwise deal with the aftermath of your mistake. If you are able to debate the issue with your superiors or the more experienced engineers on your team, they should come up with the best way to solve the problem, or at least the solution most acceptable to those concerned.

Three Lessons for Effective Projects What qualities do you think are important in an engineer? Technical expertise? Knowledge and research skills? Creativity? The stamina to go without sleep for days at a time? While there is something to be said for all of these, I believe the ability to run effective client meetings is as…