FROM THE SARA NATIONAL BOARD: Mentorship Improves Architecture
Talk the Talk
To draw in young architects, we have to learn to communicate well and be able to relate to those younger professionals. Given today’s circumstances, communication may not always happen face to face, so we must be able to communicate through multiple platforms with incredible skill whether it’s by phone, through social media, email, SMS or video conferencing. Our industry has helped us develop a clear, productive and professional way of speaking to clients, project managers, trades people, peers and even large groups of people. Therefore, we are certainly capable of being able to easily communicate with the younger professionals that are entering the industry of architecture.
Problem Solving
As an Architect, we are faced with creating “something” that sits on an empty lot or rehabilitating an old building that’s in desperate need of a new life. There are many factors that go into the design process. Such factors almost always consist of dealing with both the natural and unnatural elements, building codes, safety issues, construction budgets to wanting to simply fulfill a clients’ dream just to name a few. These factors could easily get in the way of success and cause some serious problems and issues. We quickly learn how to adapt, address and deal with such problems without quitting or turning anyone away. We then quickly learn how to avoid and prevent them from reoccurring again. We’ve now become the ultimate problem solver by putting all these pieces together in order to make every project run as smoothly, safely, on time and on budget as possible. This is a vast skill that we can teach and prepare our young architects with as they climb their way up their architectural career path.
Architect Helping Architect
Some of the tasks that come across our desks we may not have answers for. Google may not even be able to direct us to the correct solution and as an architect, it is expected of us to know the answer. Being a member of SARA, we never feel alone as we can always count on our fellow architect to help us. Even us older types can rely on our fellow members as mentors. At SARA, we will always be a resource to each other, young or old. There is no better way to being able to provide a solid mentorship for our young professionals than by being an integral part of our SARA organization. Meeting new architects can help you see new possibilities in your own work and can influence your style of creation and what inspires you!
