What do you do if your mining engineering skills clash with executive demands?

1 Assess Risks

When your mining engineering insights suggest a different path from what executives demand, start by conducting a thorough risk assessment. This means evaluating the potential technical, environmental, and safety risks associated with the executive's approach. Present your findings clearly, highlighting how these risks could impact the project's success and the company's reputation. Remember, your goal is to ensure that all decisions are made with a full understanding of the potential consequences, and a well-documented risk assessment is a powerful tool in your arsenal.

2 Open Dialogue

Open and respectful dialogue is critical when addressing clashes between your expertise and executive demands. Approach the conversation with a collaborative mindset, aiming to understand the executives' goals and constraints. Explain your concerns in layman's terms, avoiding jargon that may obscure your message. By fostering a two-way communication channel, you can work together to find solutions that satisfy both the technical requirements and the business objectives, ensuring the project's success and longevity.

3 Propose Alternatives

If the executive demands are at odds with best engineering practices, it's important to propose viable alternatives rather than just shooting down their ideas. These alternatives should align as closely as possible with the desired outcomes while addressing the technical concerns you've identified. By presenting well-considered options, you demonstrate your commitment to the project's success and your flexibility in finding workable solutions that meet both engineering standards and business goals.

5 Seek Mediation

If direct discussions with executives don't lead to a resolution, consider seeking mediation from a third party. This could be someone within the organization who has both technical understanding and business acumen, such as a senior engineer with managerial experience. A mediator can help bridge the gap between both sides, ensuring that your concerns are heard and that the executives' objectives are given due consideration. Mediation can lead to innovative compromises that might not have been evident in initial discussions.

6 Document Decisions

Finally, ensure that all decisions, especially those that diverge from standard engineering recommendations, are thoroughly documented. This includes the reasoning behind each decision, the alternatives considered, and any potential risks acknowledged during discussions. Such documentation not only provides a record for future reference but also serves as a form of protection for you as an engineer, demonstrating that you have acted responsibly and have made your professional concerns known.