The answer is easy and it is YES !
The reason why I’m so certain about it, and I actually think that architects are one of those categories that could profit the most from a coaching process, is what I will try to explain next.
If you want a shortcut and read a simple list of the reasons and subjects, go here and here. However, if you have more time, please keep reading.
Disclaimer:
* For the purpose of this post, I had to generalise. I’m well aware that we are all different and there are offices and architects who had undergone coaching sessions or a self-development processes. However, I’m also well aware that a large percentage belongs to a very different cultural group who has been formed -- and in this universities have a big impact -- to think “differently”. Also, I apologize if at times I might sound critical. My aim is actually to induce a challenge, an openness towards something different and that I know, because I tested in the first place, could make an huge difference, individually, but also as development of teams and groups.
** I apologise if I use my personal experience – although generalised – but I find this being the simplest way to explain in practical terms the message I would like to pass through.
*** Last but not least: the aim of this text is not to change your mind about your way of working, but rather to make sure that it suits you and it will not lead to have regrets in the future.
I decided that I wanted to become an architect when I was 10 years old, because of a kids book and without knowing any architect…I even had to have serious discussions with my father who did not agree with my choice.
Then, the first class of the first day of the first year of university arrived, and I still remember the first words of Professor Ferrari in Genoa: “if you want to become an architect, you have 3 options: 1. Your father is an architect; 2. Your family is rich; 3. You will have to work like hell”.
In my case, n.3 would have had to be the choice.
At first, I did not pay much attention to that and I went with the flow. I have always been very hard-working and I did not mind spending nights making models, drawing, having my bedroom looking like a paper-factory exploded. I studied in 3 countries and it was the same everywhere… "it must have been the right way to work", I thought! "Give up your life for architecture, it’s a mission, not a job ….", seemed to be the leitmotif.
Then, I started working in London: everything was super exciting… dream office, dream projects, dream team, dream bosses, free taxis at night, free meals and aperitif, friends in the office. Ok, ok, rarely full free weekend, little free time – if not none, but you can’t have everything in life, right ….?
Eventually one Sunday, 7 years after arriving in the UK, I was for once not in the office and, while walking along the Thames, I thought: how do I want to live in 10 years’ time? My image of my future was not any close to the life I was living. Without knowing it, that afternoon I have been coach for the first time (to myself) and the result was leaving the UK to move to Switzerland.
How it was to relocate to a different country, a very different one, it’s a story for another time.
The reality was quite interesting thought. In London I was living in a way which was generally quite common business-wise. I thought that, moving elsewhere, architects would have adapted their way of working accordingly to the local culture.
However, once in Switzerland, I realised that architects still lived according “their own worldwide culture” – crazy professional life = crazy life.
I will not describe why, because you probably know what I am talking about.
However, I have few simple questions for you:
Why even an ER has colour-codes for priorities, while architects have the tendency to find themselves at the last minute, trying to do everything at the same time?
Why the reason (excuse) to anything is “I don’t have time”: either you take too much on, or you can’t manage your time. There are not many other options …
If even doctors, people who saves lives – slightly more important than designing or building anything, I think - take regularly time off to recharge their batteries and make sure they can do their job properly, why architects work “ridiculous” – by all means - hours? Would you go under surgery if you knew that the surgeon was super stressed and did not have a good night sleep in ages? Why a client should trust an architect who find himself exactly in that situation?
What makes you think that working ridiculous hours, being super tired and spending the weekend at work, will open the road to brilliant ideas?
Why is it so difficult for architects to accept that colleagues could have finished their work at 5pm and leave the office for good?
Also, do you recall saying more or less often one of the following sentences?
“with the next project it will be different”;
“it’s not my fault, it’s the engineer who sends stuff late” - very common, sorry engineers...;
“it’s the client’s fault who asks too much”;
“it’s my boss’ fault that…”;
“this is not my fault”;
“it’s the other’s fault”;
“if I don’t do it, nobody will”;
“the others can’t do it properly, so I have to do it”;….
What if it was nobody’s fault but your responsibility to take charge of your life and decide for yourself how do you want to live and work, despite what people around you think?
What if you opened your mind at other ways of doings things and start enjoying what you do and your life, instead of blaming “someone” or “something”?
If I write all the above today, it’s because I know that it is possible. And the reason why I know it, it’s because I have been there, I lived in that way and I said those sentences myself.
What happened in between then and today? Many things, many transitions, many experiences, many changes..., but also many challenges and difficulties.
All for good, in the end with the realisation that the way I was living MY life, was not matching MY values, but someone else’s’, and not even a person’s value, but an cultural belief I don’t agree with.
I perfectly remember the time of that realisation: I found myself being an architect who “hated” architects. I was actually ashamed of being one, I used to excuse myself when I introduced myself as one. Horrible feeling.
It took me few years and been (originally) “forced” to start a self-development process to finally open my mind. Eventually, starting a 14 sessions process with a coach is what helped me, not only to go back to work as architect after a pause but, even more important, finding myself finally being one, according to my values and my will.
Today I have the double role of architect and coach and I can finally feel proud of having discovered my way of being within these two roles, independently from what categories would say, because I don’t feel anymore the need to fit within a standard, or stereotype.
Please find more information here or get in touch to discover how you could improve your professional and personal life too.
Best,
Giada
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