Communication Skills: Essential in Engineering
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“Whatever is well conceived is clearly said, and the words to say it flow with ease.” Ghada Nasr, teaching professor in communications at ÉTS, embraces this quote from Nicolas Boileau. Indeed, Ms. Nasr is convinced that a good engineer must be able to communicate in a clear, concise and thorough manner in order to stand out in the field.
A native of Lebanon, Ghada Nasr has been “playing” with words since childhood, juggling between Arabic, French and English. Later, Spanish was added to her extensive background while working as a translator for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). For Ms. Nasr, conveying a message competently requires not only a mastery of the language but also the ability to adapt to the speaker’s culture. How better to immerse yourself in a culture than to translate it in a way that resonates with others.
“Communication includes everything that is associated with the message. Sometimes non-verbal language needs to be decoded because gestures can be interpreted differently from one culture to another,” says Nasr.
Translation Software does not Replace the Artisan
After completing a master’s degree in translation at Université Saint-Joseph in Lebanon and a PhD in translation at Université de Montréal, Ghada Nasr focused on the use of translation software. She noted that these new tools were gradually transforming the practice for language professionals, especially with the integration of artificial intelligence. However, while these translation aids perform well in the scientific and technical fields, literature remains the private turf of humans. “The computer tool is merely a vehicle. The message must be well constructed at its core,” says Nasr.
Teaching, the Main Gateway to Communication
ÉTS teaching professor Ghada Nasr
Translation yes, but teaching is even more aligned with her desire to share her knowledge. For more than twenty years, Ghada Nasr has created and taught Communication, French and Translation courses in Lebanon and Québec. She has taught at Saint-Joseph University, Université de Montréal, Polytechnique and École de technologie supérieure.
Choosing the words, knowing the audience, adopting a friendly tone and delivering complete information seem easier than developing an algorithm. Yet, if it were that easy, everyone would be Steve Jobs. “It’s crucial to tailor the message to the context, to give examples that resonate with the target audience,” says Nasr.
She stresses the importance of striking a balance between knowledge and communication. This “balance is based on the quality of the language,” a skill dear to her mentor Anne-Marie Fortin, whom she greatly respects. Communication is not just about talk and visual information; it is also about emotional intelligence. “The more we become aware of the human being, the more empathetic we become, and the better we know how to transmit the message,” she says.
Detecting Short Circuits
This sensitivity is a valuable asset for ÉTS engineers working in different contexts and environments. If there is a short circuit between the transmitter and the receiver, the source of the problem must be found. Where is the noise between them? Is there a lack of preparation in delivering the message? Is the objective poorly identified? Is the presentation lacking? Then, it’s back to the drawing board. The goal: to get the power back on!
“When the words linger, inhabit us, and we end up quoting them, we are in the presence of a person who has mastered the art of communication,” summarizes Ghada—a skill so powerful that it can sometimes upset the world order.
Ghada Nasr hopes that future engineers will remember this fundamental notion from her teaching: to communicate well, you must adapt to your audience—because walking a mile in a person’s shoes will encourage them to follow you. And then you can say, “Mission accomplished.”
