Context & Clarity for Small Firm Architects

Where do your best ideas come from? Many of my best ideas pop into my head when I'm in the shower? Does that ever happen to you? It's a topic that Mark W. Schaefer writes about in his most recent book, "Cumulative Advantage," and it's the title of one of my favorite reads from this past year, "Where Do Good Ideas Come From," by Steven Johnson. When I started reading 20-30 books every year, I realized that my brain started connecting lots of dots between things written in this book and things written in a different book on a completely different topic. I credit that consumption to much of my idea generation.Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

I feel like I’ve gotten to know a number of people over the past 15 months that I’d call friends and that I could count on, even though for some of you, I’ve never seen your face, and for most of you, we’ve never met in person. So we've started a new regular Context & Clarity feature that we're calling Member Spotlight, and this week, Audrey Whisker will join Katharine and me. Join us for a loose and lively conversation as we see our friends and get to know them a little bit better.Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

Every time I bring up sales, I know I lose a few listeners. This is another one of those topics that I know many architects would rather not hear about because you’re not comfortable with "selling," but it’s one that you need to embrace. “The Win Without Pitching Manifesto" by Blair Enns is one of my favorite books when it comes to business development and sales for architects. In fact, if I’m playing a management consulting role with a client, I actually require that everyone on their leadership team read it before we begin work. It will challenge you, but I think the book will reveal some very healthy mindset shifts that can transform the way you do business.Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

Some architects do a great job of simplifying things and helping clients understand, some don't. Believe it or not, more words is not the key here, and I'm sorry, but an explanation of the 5 or 7 phases of architecture and a 36 page AIA contract usually don't contribute to helping mere mortals understand how you help them. So, what is the key to helping clients understand what they're hiring you for?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

Today, we're talking about diversity in terms of what you do, not in terms of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. How do you diversify? Why do you diversify? I believe, especially if you're a small firm that you should go deep and then wide. Dig deeper on your expertise and then diversify the ways that you serve and solve problems for your clients.Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

When you read that question, you probably thought, ‘Well, demonstrating our expertise, of course.’ And yes, that’s the way to truly be seen as an expert, but it’s a path that’s wrought with ironies and problems. The websites of many, architecture firms proudly and sometimes loudly proclaim, WE’RE THE EXPERTS!!! So, they're definitely saying it. Are they also showing it? I also know that it’s really hard to establish yourself when you’re new to the game. How can you demonstrate that you're an expert without the portfolio to show it? Maybe you’ve worked in firms my entire career and you don’t have anything of your own to show. Don’t you just have to just say, “I’m the expert” at this point?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

How do you find the work you really want to be doing? That's a hard question, but a thread that runs through all of our topics this week is the idea of being intentional. You have to be intentional about finding the work you really want to be doing, rather than accepting the projects that find their way to you, or as one firm leader said to me, 'We need to go after anything and everything that we think we're remotely qualified to do so that we don't miss any opportunity.' Do I really need to tell you that not only were they not doing the work they really wanted to do, but that statement was also a recipe for disaster?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

Do you have trouble saying no? Many of us do. The problem is, that little two-letter word is one of the most important words and using it can be one of the most liberating actions you take. It’s hard to say no! You don’t want to disappoint people. You don’t want to miss out on an opportunity. You don’t feel like you’re entitled to or hold the power to say no… but you have to. You have to take control and learn to say no. Think of it like this, if you’re not saying no, you’re probably not building the business you want, because you’re too busy doing what other people want you to do.Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

I know I’m not the only one that opens my calendar and to-do list in the morning and wonders, ‘who in the world scheduled this?’ Most of us are over committed. I think one of the most important things I’ve ever learned is that on any given day, I can’t get everything done that “needs” to be done. So, how do you decide what gets done and what doesn’t?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

It’s always interesting to find out how other’s got their start, but also why they took the leap. Maybe, if you’re the employee of a firm right now you’ll hear an answer, or some answers that will help you make a decision one way or another in the future. What’s your story? Did you start your own firm? When? And Why? If you haven’t started your own firm, can you ever see yourself starting one?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access