Context & Clarity for Small Firm Architects

When it comes to working in the profession of architecture, what can leaders do to adjust to the changing times in our profession and the changing face and needs of our workforce? What's the responsibility of the employee, especially emerging professionals? The different facets of JEDI in play when it comes to working in architecture certainly include race, gender, and orientation, but also generation. How do we build the future firm when it's quite clear that the firm of 10 years from now will not look or act like the firm of today?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

When it comes to JEDI and hiring, I think the natural reaction is to think about race, maybe gender, or orientation, but I also want us to consider generational gaps and I don’t say that to diminish any of the other factors I mentioned. We certainly need to keep all of these in mind and I want to make sure that we talk about generational bias because this is a divide that I see bubbling up over and over. I think it's going to get worse as the baby boomers age out, and it’s not just more experienced folks that have trouble here.Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

Are you designing your career?That's the question we'll start with Thursday on Context & Clarity LIVE.Jeff Echols and Katharine White MacPhail will welcome creative agent of change, design thinker, facilitator, and founder of Build Yourself, Mia Scharphie to Context & Clarity.Join the conversation this week as we explore the idea of designing your career. Have you ever thought about designing your own path forward? You do that for your clients, how about for yourself in a slightly different context?Share your experience and advice, and ask your questions, Thursday at 4:00 pm ET.Context & Clarity LIVE is live-streamed on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, and YouTube.Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

As a middle-aged white guy, I’m as uncomfortable with these topics and conversations as anyone else, and that’s the point. We’ll never grow, we’ll never learn, we’ll never get better or progress if we don’t get uncomfortable and if we aren’t open to other’s ideas and experiences, so this week we’re going to explore Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion from several points of view. What does JEDI really mean to be just? What does it mean to be equitable or provide equity? What does diversity and inclusion really mean?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

A couple of weeks ago, we tested out a new feature for Context & Clarity and it was so well received that we’ve decided to work it in as a regular event every couple of Fridays. I said back then that 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 this week, Erica Spayd will join Katharine and I for this next episode of member spotlights. 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

Have you ever thought about designing your career? You probably spend a lot of time designing other people's futures... at least how they're built. If you haven't and if you don't have a plan, like we talked about yesterday, the question becomes, are you holding yourself back from the career or the life that you want? Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

Over the course of the past few weeks, we've talked about where you came from and where you want to go, but we haven't talked about how you're going to get there, so let’s talk about going from your origin story to where you want to be and your plan to get there. Have you ever thought about designing a strategy to achieve the career goals that you have? You’ve probably done something similar for a client. You may have called it a phasing plan or master plan or something like that. Over the past few weeks, we’ve done the important work of plotting the course, now it’s time to complete the plan.Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

I wonder if there are things that you can do, ways that you can apply you knowledge and skill in the realm of your client’s business, even if you wouldn’t necessarily consider it “architecture,” that can expand or pivot your services to make your client’s business better? That's a pretty practical approach. I think there are ways to help your clients that don’t involve drawing lines on paper that represent great opportunities. And, I don’t think it would be hard for you imagine a way or point out an example, either.Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

What's the first rule of the Building Science Fight Club?That's the question we'll start with today on Context & Clarity LIVE.Many of you have requested and applauded the fact that we'll have her on and today, Katharine White MacPhail and I will welcome Building Scientist, educator, and host of the Building Science Fight Club, Christine Williamson to Context & Clarity.Join the conversation as we explore all things building science, and most importantly...What do you want to ask Christine? Post your questions in the comments below.Share your building science stories and advice, and ask your questions, today at 4:00 pm ET.Context & Clarity LIVE is live-streamed on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, and YouTube.Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

Were you a non-traditional student in college? Did you start out on a different path? Did you follow an alternative path after college and go in a different direction? There are plenty of examples out there. Even a decent percentage of your graduating class is probably doing something other than working in a traditional architecture role right now. Another version of this that we shouldn't overlook is, if you could, what else would you do? You get to write the rest of your story, so is there something else you can imagine applying your skills and experience to?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access