Leadership by Design

2LEADERSHIP BY DESIGN

by Kirk Narburgh, FAIA, ASLA, LEED AP BD+C CEO/Managing Partner, King + King Architects, LLP

Our design of educational environments Pre-K through 12 has been evolving for several decades as teaching methodologies have transformed to a focus on 21st Century learning that includes STEAM, CTE, and project-based collaborative environments. Over that same time-frame, architects and designers have lost some ground with leading the building team as owners and facility managers have looked to others, such as educational planners and program/construction managers to fill, at times, that leadership void. To regain some of those planning and visioning responsibilities we need to build trust through actions and results. Architects and designers generally complete their educational process and practice architecture with very little understanding of how their character preferences positively effect relationships with people that we need to work with in a productive way. Most importantly the soft skills related to emotional intelligence within our industry are often overlooked. Those who are naturally “in-tune” are better equipped to be truly strong leaders in our profession and with our clients. There is much statistical data available regarding Myers-Briggs character profiles and this is where it gets interesting for architects. Typically, there is a balanced distribution of character types for all people, taking the assessment, within the 16 possible profiles. The delta from the least populated type to the most is only 12 percentage points (1.8% to 13.8%). However, with architects this even distribution does not exist and what we find is that an astonishing 80% of all architects fit within a very narrow range in 6 of the possible 16 character typologies. These same 6 types make up only 25% of the general population! One Myers-Briggs designation, ENTJ (Extraversion, Intuition, Thinking, Judging), is the least populated type at 1.8% (of the general population) but with architects it makes up 31%. ENTJ is known as the area in which “Life’s Natural Leaders” reside. I am an ENTJ and probably in one way or another explains why I am writing this piece as the Past-President of AIA New York State and CEO/Managing Partner of my firm. Besides a predisposition to architecture, what characteristics do ENTJ’s share?

Frank, decisive, assumes leadership readily, quickly identifies illogical and inefficient procedures/policies, and implements comprehensive systems to solve organizational problems. I am sure that many of you reading this passage will find that these characteristics are true for you as well. They should because they identify with what we do as architects especially when developing creative solutions to challenges in the built environment and beyond. The ENTJ preferences, indicated above, tend to be common themes amongst the 5 other prevalent architecture “types” (ENFJ, ISTJ, INTJ, INFP, and INTP). One of our greatest strengths for architects is that we envision the future and have recognized leadership qualities. We are big-picture organizers and are able to think in terms of complete systems (i.e. buildings). However, the downside is that we have a tendency to lose sight of, or treat as less important, details and follow-through. This might explain why we are known for being wonderful procrastinators. Think about architecture school and how we would holistically design and re-design for weeks on end, to then “crank out” the evolved solutions in the last 48 hours ... residual habits which I am sure exist in some form within our own practices! Additional drawbacks include an individualistic attitude and a lack of empathy and overall impatience with teamwork. There can be arrogance that is perceived with our outside interactions. Collaborative and integrated design is critically important in our work but this presents a challenge to a number of architects who are much more comfortable presenting their own ideas for others to implement without in-depth discussion. I truly believe one reason for this is the fact that we spend most of our educational experiences working as single entities and then “selling” our individual designs to others. As part of my professional practice class, that I teach at Syracuse University, there is a required group case study exercise that proves challenging for many as the inevitable team dynamics take shape. In the end what prepares architects to work effectively with team members who are not like us (especially clients, contractors, educators, etc.)? The answer is most likely related to interactions with positive role models/mentors, diverse project/ planning experiences, and leadership opportunities. Next time you are having a challenging interaction or conversation with another person you might want to spend some time exploring how your preferences, as well as the other parties, could be contributing to the conflict. Be situationally aware and put yourself in “their shoes,” chart a new path, and adjust your leadership style. Architects will continue to think differently, analyze, and creatively problem-solve …We will because that is how we are “wired” and do it very well. The trick is to capitalize on our strengths, while recognizing and improving on our growth areas, so that we can craft better solutions for the world in which we live! Architects are the leading edge of a design and construction industry that directly employs more than seven million Americans and accounts for one in nine dollars of Gross Domestic Product. For more than 150 years, the AIA has served as the voice of not only America’s architects, but of the millions of people who depend upon them to design safe and sustainable buildings. The more than 90,000 members of the AIA are committed to advancing policies that promote economic growth and job

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Reprinted from verywellmind.com Have you ever heard someone describe themselves as an INTJ or an ESTP and wondered what those cryptic-sounding letters could mean? What these people are referring to is their personality type based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator is a self-report inventory designed to identify a person's personality type, strengths, and preferences. The questionnaire was developed by Isabel Myers and her mother Katherine Briggs based on their work with Carl Jung's theory of personality types. Today, the MBTI inventory is one of the most widely used psychological instruments in the world. Both Myers and Briggs were fascinated by Jung's theory of psychological types and recognized that the theory could have real-world applications. During World War II, they began researching and developing an indicator that could be utilized to help understand individual differences. By helping people understand themselves, Myers and Briggs believed that they could help people select occupations that were best suited to their personality types and lead healthier, happier lives. Myers created the first version of the inventory during the 1940s, and the two women began testing the assessment on friends and family. They continued to fully develop the instrument over the next two decades. To learn more about the MBTI, go to: https://www.verywellmind.com/the-myers-briggs-type-indicator-2795583 https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test www.truity.com for access to a free MBTI assessment and more information about the results “The Workplace Profiles” book from the authors of “Type Talk at Work,” Otto Kroeger with Janet M. Thuesen, and Hile Rutledge

creation. AIA architects, and allied professionals, are working in every community across the country to revitalize our built environments where we live, learn, heal, work, educate, and play. AIA members are doing their part to ensure a vibrant and sustainable future but we need all of our elected federal, state, and local representatives to act, as well – to remove regulatory barriers that prevent our industry from getting back to work; to reform outdated laws and regulations that hold us back; and to advance policies that support sustainable economic growth in our communities. Please stay engaged with your elected officials and together we can make a difference. Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote “Do not go where

the path may lead, go instead where there is no path

and leave a trail.” Architects, as the “trailblazers” of ingenuity and creativity, are in a unique position to lead our clients with a renewed spirit towards a post-pandemic economic recovery and with a keen focus on strengthening our communities and particularly our education environments. Every person is the architect of their own character and we must lead by example to be recognized and used as those client and community leaders that we are! l Kirk brings thirty-four years of professional experience to his position as CEO/Managing Partner at King + King Architects and is the partner-in-charge of education projects for both higher education and K-12 environments. He is an adjunct professor at Syracuse University’s School of Architecture where he has been teaching Professional Practice and Digital Technology classes every semester for the past thirty years. He is the past 2012 President of the Central New York American Institute of Architects, the 2018 President of the New York State American Institute of Architects, and currently serves as the New York State regional representative to the AIA National Strategic Council Class of 2022. Kirk is an alumnus of Syracuse University where he earned a Master of Architecture (’90) and Cornell University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (’87).

GLASS IS THE WEAKEST ENTRY POINT. ALL IT TAKES IS ONE SHOT.

Architects Can Be The First Responders.

Armoured One’s Security Film and Glass are the first to be tested with a standard based on the history of active shooters and are the first to have passed testing using the Shooter Attack Test Method.

This is designed to slow down or deter an

attacker from gaining entry with force or a gun.

SHOOTER ATTACK TESTED FILM & GLASS *UL Observed