Something I've always admired about many of my engineering brethren has been their determination and drive to find the best answer to solving a problem, not just an answer to solving a problem. While a lot of folks take comfort in the saying, "There's more than one way to skin a cat", most engineers ask, "What's the best way to skin a cat?" As a materials engineer, I've tried to emulate that attitude, by not just selecting materials that will work in a given application, but by selecting the 'best' materials for an application.

An obvious issue in finding the 'best' solution to a problem is figuring out what 'best' means. Oftentimes figuring out what is 'best' is not difficult. When the problems are simple, and the requirements are easily quantifiable, the task is easy. For example, given clearly defined requirements for strength and toughness, it's not too difficult to get agreement amongst those concerned that the 'best' material for the application is the material that meets those requirements at the lowest cost, or that is available most readily or that is most compatible with the manufacturing methods we have available. … However, when the problems become more complex, when requirements can't easily be quantified, or individual requirements conflict with one another figuring out what is 'best' becomes much harder and often requires skills that don't come naturally to many engineers.

Determining what's 'best' in complex, often ambiguous, situations requires engineers to reach outside themselves and outside their comfort zones to collaborate with others. Don't get me wrong, engineers successfully deal with ambiguity and complex problems all the time, it's just my observation that true collaboration with others is difficult for some engineers. I've been teased many times that I'm willing to collaborate as long as everyone agrees to do things my way. As engineers I don't think it is unusual for us to look inwardly, rather than outwardly for solutions, and it's not unusual to live in a pretty secluded world. However, if we can make the leap and work with others, taking advantage of their skills and their viewpoints, defining what is 'best' in these difficult situations will become easier.

To collaborate successfully, to find the 'best' solutions to complex problems we need to be ready to lead when we have the right skills and knowledge, to follow when others do and to get out of the way to help people find solutions outside of our limited skill sets. Successful leaders know when and how to apply all of these talents; they lead, they follow and they get out of the way.

Editor's Note: CR4 Would like to thank PJ Sikorsky, P.E., of GEA Consulting for contributing this blog entry.