SNEVic | Society of Nepali Engineers in Victoria

Leadership, Communication, and Soft Skills

Overview

Focus Group 2 explored the leadership, communication, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal skills required for Nepali engineers to thrive in the Australian workplace. The session included a keynote presentation by Hem Raj Panta, an online survey, and a panel discussion chaired by Jog Limbu with Panalist includes - Jerry Andrews , Roger Pym and Ram Upadhyaya.

The session highlighted that career growth depends not only on qualifications and technical performance, but also on influence, collaboration, professional confidence, communication, and the ability to build strong relationships.

Leadership Beyond Position

A major message from the session was that leadership is not defined only by title, seniority, or formal authority.

Leadership is demonstrated through:

Performance
Influence
Accountability
Initiative
Collaboration
Problem-solving
Learning mindset
Emotional intelligence
Ability to work with people across teams and functions

The discussion encouraged engineers to shift from a hierarchical model of leadership to a more collaborative Australian workplace model based on mutual respect, shared decision-making, and constructive communication.

Emotional Intelligence as a Career Skill

The focus group identified emotional intelligence as a practical career accelerator.

Engineers need to develop:

Self-awareness: understanding emotions and their impact on others
Self-management: regulating responses and adapting to change
Social awareness: reading group dynamics and unspoken cues
Relationship management: building trust, resolving conflict, and strengthening collaboration

These skills help engineers become more effective in meetings, team environments, client discussions, and leadership situations.

Communication in Professional Settings

The session highlighted communication across three important settings:

Meetings

Engineers should speak with confidence, clarify responsibilities, and share perspectives openly.

Client Interactions

Engineers should build awareness of accents, pronunciation, communication styles, and cultural expectations to improve collaboration and issue resolution.

Informal Interactions

Engineers should use informal conversations to build relationships, demonstrate curiosity, listen actively, and identify opportunities.

Success Stories and Missed Opportunities

The focus group shared useful lessons from real workplace experiences.

Success Factors

Volunteering for challenging roles shows confidence and initiative.
Continuous learning beyond one’s core technical domain creates competitive advantage.
Thorough preparation and active participation improve professional visibility.

Missed Opportunities

Taking feedback personally instead of constructively can slow career growth.
Misreading boundaries or social cues in client settings can affect professional relationships.

Key Takeaways

Leadership starts before the title. Engineers can lead through influence, ownership, and initiative.
Communication creates visibility. Speaking clearly and confidently helps others understand your value.
Emotional intelligence builds trust. Trust is essential for collaboration and advancement.
Feedback is a growth tool. Constructive feedback should be treated as information, not criticism.
Preparation creates confidence. Visibility improves when engineers prepare, participate, and contribute.

Focus Group 2 Conclusion

For Nepali engineers, leadership growth begins with confidence, communication, and emotional intelligence.

Engineers who learn to speak clearly, listen actively, receive feedback constructively, and build relationships across teams are better positioned to influence outcomes and progress into leadership roles.