Collaborative Business Practices
In a world full of people trying to get to the top, one of the best ways to succeed is to help elevate one another. Here are some thoughts on how to create new opportunities for growth from a woman-led architecture firm.
One of the best ways to make sure that everyone on your team is on the same page is to hold weekly meetings. This is an opportunity for everyone to share the past week's work and address questions that have come up. Allow people to have dialogues about current projects and ask each other for clarification - this time for open communication creates an environment where people feel comfortable providing and receiving feedback.
To facilitate new approaches and problem-solving in a project, include people outside the core team in update meetings. You will need to bring them up to speed on the timeline of the project up to this point, presenting new eyes a chance to take in your process. A client might not always understand the process to the extent a professional would and an employee who has no previous knowledge of a project might be able to pinpoint where questions might arise, providing new insight. By allowing more people in on the development, you are encouraging new ideas and new ways of thinking to create the best process possible.
One of the best ways to create new opportunities for ourselves, both professionally and personally, is to get outside our comfort zones and meet new people. Look beyond your immediate circle for opportunities of growth through industry happy hours held by a local professional society or a conference on a topic you find interesting. Introduce yourself to someone new and take the conversation past small talk - ask them about the biggest challenge they face in your industry or how they hope to grow. Their answer may be something you have thought about or it might be something you now want to learn more about. By reaching out to new people, we are opening ourselves up to the possibilities that those people have to offer. Ask someone you admire to coffee - be aware that both of your time is valuable and ask questions that you will both find beneficial feedback in. Think about the people you spend time with - there may be people you have never thought of introducing to one another who could provide professional advice to each other. Be the connector for others and you never know how the circle could grow.
Finally, do not be afraid to ask for what you want. The people you work with want you to perform at your best and provide you with a great support system. Bring everything you have to the table and be proud of what you have done. Understand that that any criticism you receive is someone trying to help you achieve the best possible result. When we support one another to be our best selves, we all succeed.
One of the best ways to make sure that everyone on your team is on the same page is to hold weekly meetings. This is an opportunity for everyone to share the past week's work and address questions that have come up. Allow people to have dialogues about current projects and ask each other for clarification - this time for open communication creates an environment where people feel comfortable providing and receiving feedback.
To facilitate new approaches and problem-solving in a project, include people outside the core team in update meetings. You will need to bring them up to speed on the timeline of the project up to this point, presenting new eyes a chance to take in your process. A client might not always understand the process to the extent a professional would and an employee who has no previous knowledge of a project might be able to pinpoint where questions might arise, providing new insight. By allowing more people in on the development, you are encouraging new ideas and new ways of thinking to create the best process possible.
One of the best ways to create new opportunities for ourselves, both professionally and personally, is to get outside our comfort zones and meet new people. Look beyond your immediate circle for opportunities of growth through industry happy hours held by a local professional society or a conference on a topic you find interesting. Introduce yourself to someone new and take the conversation past small talk - ask them about the biggest challenge they face in your industry or how they hope to grow. Their answer may be something you have thought about or it might be something you now want to learn more about. By reaching out to new people, we are opening ourselves up to the possibilities that those people have to offer. Ask someone you admire to coffee - be aware that both of your time is valuable and ask questions that you will both find beneficial feedback in. Think about the people you spend time with - there may be people you have never thought of introducing to one another who could provide professional advice to each other. Be the connector for others and you never know how the circle could grow.
Finally, do not be afraid to ask for what you want. The people you work with want you to perform at your best and provide you with a great support system. Bring everything you have to the table and be proud of what you have done. Understand that that any criticism you receive is someone trying to help you achieve the best possible result. When we support one another to be our best selves, we all succeed.