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58 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2022 path. If you find someone with interest and aptitude, try giving them a little encourage- ment and see where it takes them. A young high school graduate named Mark Eaton was working as an auto mechanic in 1978 when a college coach encouraged him to enroll at his school and play basketball. Eventually, Mark went on to rank second in the NBA for career blocks behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, spending his entire profes- sional career playing for the Utah Jazz. Just imagine if that college coach had seen only a mechanic instead of a potential NBA superstar. May we all learn to look beyond what we simply see on the surface. • Be accepting of new personnel: Change can be tough, and it is understandably dif- ficult to see a trusted co-worker move on and replaced with someone new. But face it, this scenario is going to repeat itself many times over; we must accept and make the most of it. at leaves us with two choices: we can either bury our heads in the sand (which I don't recommend because the view isn't all that interesting from that perspective), or we can welcome our new co-workers with open arms. And as I have learned, more oen than not these new people bring with them fresh ideas and new ways to get things done that help in ways I would have never thought possible. It's a winning combination for everyone. • Help them to succeed: When working with a new designer, make sure to start them with projects they can grow with and learn from. Otherwise, you may risk dis- couraging them before they have a chance to reach their full potential. You will also want to ensure they have adequate train- ing in your processes and procedures, and be prepared for their questions. e goal should be to create an environment that encourages their success as a designer of your products, and not merely how to punch a time-clock and collect a paycheck. • Hold a crown over their heads, and help them to grow into it: As these new design- ers come up to speed, don't be afraid to increase their responsibilities according to their abilities. In this way you will further help build their confidence. However, it is essential to keep an eye on their progress to ensure your new designers don't overcom- mit. I've seen far too many new employees burn themselves out because they took on too much or were not managed correctly and got in over their heads. • Encourage learning: Explore different paths of continuing education to help your new designers grow in their careers. ere are many options available out there that range from simple online seminars to large-scale design conferences. Not only will your designers learn new skills at these venues, but investing in their future like this will also pay huge dividends in building up their confidence. Probably the best advice is to treat new design- ers and employees the same way that we would want to be treated if we were in their shoes. Yes, they can get the job done by hiding in the corner and doing only what they are told to do. But to truly excel in our industry requires tak- ing a few risks, and that takes confidence. It's up to us to help build that confidence in those we work with so they can reach their full potential. If you are questioning your own ability to build confidence in others, let me be the first to say, "I know you can do this, I believe in you." Until next time everyone, keep on designing. DESIGN007 References 1. H-004-5: Toughness—Aviation Machinest Mate 1 st Class Bruno Peter Gaido, by Samuel J. Cox, March 29, 2017, Naval History and Heritage Command. Tim Haag writes technical, thought-leadership content for First Page Sage on his longtime career as a PCB designer and EDA technologist. To read past columns, click here.