Attribute 6: Interpersonal Skills and Communication

This attribute is about how you work with others.

Engineering goes beyond technical work. It involves explaining ideas, working with others, and building understanding across different groups. Strong communication often determines whether good technical work leads to successful outcomes.

You are expected to communicate clearly, work effectively with others, and conduct yourself professionally.

What this attribute covers

Attribute 6 focuses on three main areas:

  • communicating clearly and effectively

  • working well with others

  • demonstrating professional and respectful behaviour

These develop over time as your confidence and responsibility increase.

How this looks at different levels

This attribute applies across EngTech, IEng and CEng, but the expectation changes depending on your level of responsibility.

At a simple level:

  • EngTech focuses on clear communication and working effectively with others

  • IEng focuses on confident communication and contributing to discussions

  • CEng focuses on influencing others, explaining complex ideas, and leading communication

The structure is consistent. What changes is how confidently you communicate, how widely you engage, and how much influence you have.

Official ICE Attribute Definitions

The definitions below are based on the ICE attributes for EngTech, IEng and CEng and show how expectations develop through to Chartered Engineer.

EngTech (Engineering Technician)

Focus is on communicating clearly and working effectively with others.

  • Communicate effectively with others, at all levels, in English

  • Work effectively with colleagues, clients, suppliers or the public

  • Demonstrate personal and social skills

  • Demonstrate awareness of diversity and inclusion

IEng (Incorporated Engineer)

Focus shifts towards confident communication and effective contribution within teams.

  • Communicate well with others at all levels including effective use of English, orally and in writing

  • Discuss ideas and plans competently and with confidence

  • Demonstrate effective personal and social skills

  • Demonstrate awareness of diversity and inclusion

CEng (Chartered Engineer)

Expectation moves towards influence, leadership, and communicating complex ideas clearly.

  • Communicate well with others at all levels including effective use of English, orally and in writing

  • Discuss ideas and plans competently and with confidence

  • Communicate new concepts and ideas to technical and non-technical stakeholders

  • Demonstrate effective personal and social skills

  • Demonstrate awareness of diversity and inclusion

  • Proactively manage diversity and inclusion

Communicating clearly

A key part of this attribute is being able to explain your work in a way that others can understand.

This includes:

  • written communication such as reports, emails, and drawings

  • verbal communication in meetings, briefings, and discussions

Clarity is more important than complexity. Being able to explain something simply is often a stronger demonstration of understanding than using technical language without context.

At an early stage, this may involve:

  • producing clear and accurate work

  • asking questions when unsure

  • explaining your tasks to colleagues

Discussing ideas and contributing

Engineering work involves discussion and collaboration.

This attribute looks at how you:

  • share ideas

  • contribute to conversations

  • respond to feedback

As your confidence grows, you are expected to:

  • explain your reasoning

  • contribute to decision-making

  • take part in technical discussions

At more senior levels, this develops into influencing decisions. This may involve challenging proposals, guiding discussions, and ensuring that the final outcome is technically sound and clearly understood by all parties.

Working with others

Engineering is rarely done alone.

You will work with:

  • colleagues within your team

  • other disciplines

  • clients and stakeholders

  • contractors or the public

This attribute considers how you:

  • collaborate with others

  • build working relationships

  • contribute to a positive and effective team environment

Good interpersonal skills often make the difference between a project running smoothly and one that struggles.

Communicating with different audiences

As your experience develops, you will need to communicate with a wider range of people.

This includes both:

  • technical audiences, such as engineers and specialists

  • non-technical audiences, such as clients, planners, or the public

Being able to adapt how you communicate is an important skill.

For example:

  • simplifying technical information for non-specialists

  • focusing on key risks and decisions rather than detail where appropriate

  • using clear language to avoid misunderstanding

At higher levels, this becomes a core part of your role. For example, you may need to explain a complex technical issue to a client and guide them towards a decision, balancing risk, cost, and programme. This is not just about presenting information, but helping others understand the implications and making sure the right decision is made.

Professional behaviour and awareness

This attribute also considers how you conduct yourself.

This includes:

  • being respectful and professional

  • listening to others

  • responding appropriately in different situations

It also includes awareness of diversity and inclusion.

This means:

  • recognising that people have different backgrounds and perspectives

  • working in a way that is fair and inclusive

  • contributing to a positive working environment

At more senior levels, this develops into actively supporting inclusive practices and setting expectations for others.

Building confidence over time

Many engineers are less confident in communication early in their careers.

That is normal.

This attribute develops through:

  • experience

  • practice

  • exposure to different situations

Small steps, such as contributing in meetings or explaining your work clearly, build confidence over time.

A simple way to think about this attribute

You can reflect on your development by asking:

  • Am I communicating clearly in my work?

  • Am I working effectively with others?

  • Am I contributing to discussions and decisions?

As your experience grows, this develops into:

  • Am I able to explain complex ideas clearly?

  • Am I influencing others through my communication?

Where this fits in your journey

You do not need to be presenting to large groups early in your career.

This attribute develops gradually through:

  • clear day-to-day communication

  • working with others

  • building confidence

  • contributing more over time

Over time, this leads to influence, leadership, and responsibility for communication across projects.

If you’re serious about preparing properly

Understanding the Attributes is one part of the process. Being able to demonstrate them clearly is what determines the outcome.

Most candidates only realise where they struggle when they are asked to explain this under pressure.

If you are still getting to grips with the Attributes, the free guide included in our newstletter is a good place to start.

If your review is still some time away, build your preparation properly with structured support and clear direction.
If your review is approaching, test where you stand before it matters.

Final note

This page is intended as guidance to help you understand the ICE attributes in practice. For official requirements, you should refer to the ICE website and your Supervising Civil Engineer (SCE).

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