Episode 110: From Friction to Force Multiplier — Traits of Impactful Engineers

The Impactful Engineer Project - Mentorship, Career Growth, and Personal & Professional Excellence for Aspiring Engineers

In this episode, Jake and Steve break down the core traits that separate engineers who accelerate teams from those who quietly stall progress. This is a raw, practical conversation about how ego shows up in engineering—and how to replace it with real influence, clear communication, and team-building behaviors that actually get noticed.

Not theory—practical, tactical advice from engineers who’ve been there.

Key topics covered:
• The real meaning of agency and urgency—and why they belong together
• How ownership and accountability build trust fast
• Why curiosity and humility unlock next-level influence
• How ego-driven behavior quietly destroys team capacity
• The biggest career-limiting behavior you may not realize you're doing
• Delivering clarity under pressure—even when it's not your fault
• Why engineers need to manage upward as well as across
• Recovering from mistakes in a way that builds your reputation
• Communication strategies that work with execs and field teams alike
• What it really takes to become the engineer people trust

Actionable takeaways:
• Follow up within 24 hours—no exceptions
• Ask people how they want to receive updates
• Don’t wait to be told—take initiative within your lane
• Own the outcome, even when someone else drops the ball
• Convert mistakes into visible lessons learned
• Deliver updates in three clear sentences, not a ramble
• Track your open loops and close them like it matters (because it does)
• Stay curious and ask why, not just what
• Give credit, take feedback, and actually apply it
• Show urgency with your response time and your decision-making

This episode is for engineers who are tired of being overlooked, want to lead without waiting for permission, and are ready to build real trust and career equity through action—not noise.

Where to listen:
Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.