All about the advantages of distributed leadership in architectural practice and how to implement and adapt to a more agile model of practice. — The future of the architectural profession is not assured. The profession is facing an existential triple threat: Complicity in the climate crisis in the tacit service of capital has left many architects uneasy about their work and the diminished status of the profession; The formerly singular control of architects, their…

It’s worthwhile considering how a distributed leadership model might better serve the profession. Here’s a look at what it is. [Part-1] — At the risk of calling architects a flock of pelicans, I’m suggesting architects should be more like them. I’m not one to have a favourite bird, but if I had a top 5, pelicans would be in there. Their beak is freaking awesome. They might look gawky and ungainly on…

To evolve a more vigorous architecture practice we need need to introduce new traits as well as breed out the undesirable ones. In Sarah Wigglesworth’s 2022 RIAS keynote On Value and Values, she noted “The current structures that have led us here will not get us out and we need…

We take it for granted the importance of leadership. Seemingly obvious but there’s more reasons than you might think. — Why are leaders important? I asked this question at a workshop I ran the other day. Asking it because if we’re to give leaders weight, we should understand why we’re doing so. It’s accepted wisdom that leaders are important, yet many organisations are run by people that are good managers…

Leadership and storytelling will be crucial skills for the architecture profession as AI increasingly impacts their work. — AI is changing everything! In the near future its impact will lead to the evolution of the design process too. AI will soon, in all likelihood, be designing project homes (tract housing, mass housing, McMansions, call them what you will). However AI is unlikely to deliver designs of nuance or…

How to learn from mistakes and become a better leader in your practice of architecture. — There’s many ways or types of leadership. I hope we agree the best leaders in architectural practice support others to do their best work, be their best selves and invest in their growth. In some instances, when making adjustments to adopt the advice below, things may get worse before they…

To level up their practice of architecture, architects can bow to AI overlords or upgrade their human skills. — Media feeds filled with images and text of indeterminate origin. People becoming alert and alarmed at the potential of AI. Preoccupied with the value AI might bring, the risks to our work or questioning what it means to do our work. The AI overlords cometh. The possibility of AI There’s no doubt about the…

The boundaries of your architectural practice define your priorities. Establishing limits, and what you will and won’t accept. — Boundaries are both important and helpful. Yet many architectural practices haven’t intentionally set boundaries. We intuitively know their value. We set boundaries for our children. We’ll typically set boundaries around bad habits. Like how much TV we watch perhaps, how much we drink or what we eat.

How might architects design better work, not just flexible work, to deliver a better work culture? — Many architecture practices are embracing the challenge of flexible work challenge. They’re choosing, however, to work the same way but more flexibly instead of rethinking the way to work and finding a better way. I think they can do better ,and build a better work culture in the process. I…