To lead a project team, it is not sufficient to just be a good designer. Architects also need management and motivational skills – for themselves and others.
This series of five, separate yet complimentary sessions aims to build the capabilities and confidence required to be central, trusted and respected in the leadership of projects
Who this course is for
This course is particularly aimed at job-running project architects and designers who are in the front line, running and leading projects, managing their architectural resources and design teams, dealing with clients, contractors and diverse stakeholders and the full supply chain – and all the while creating and managing design.
As well as architects, interior designers and master planners, delegates could include:
- Part IIIs and assistant architects – the job runners of the future, who are currently in supporting roles and need to understand and have empathy for job running.
- Senior architects, associates, studio leaders and principals – who support the job runners, contribute to their development and are involved in the leadership of projects.
Course format
We are offering five separate sessions under the banner of Architects as Project Leaders, addressing five distinct, yet interlinked topics:
01 Architects as project leaders – understanding the role and some essentials.
02 Architects as project leaders – understanding context and priorities.
03 Architects as project leaders – understanding your clients and customers.
04 Architects as project leaders – responding to being put on the spot.
05 Architects as project leaders – understanding the ever-expanding design team.
The detail of each course can be tailored to meet the requirements of individual practices and cohorts of delegates.
The sessions are run by Tom Taylor, one of the founding members of the highly respected, design-friendly project management outfit, Buro Four and an author and consultant with Dashdot.
In each session Tom will explore the working methods of project leadership, taking delegates through step-by-step reviews of the roles and responsibilities that are key.
Each session is contained in a single day. In keeping with the Colander philosophy the content is intensely practical, informed by interactive working exercises, case studies, discussions and anecdotes. A printed, bound set of course notes will be provided to every delegate.
While it is not essential to sign up for all five sessions, we do recommend that our clients start with the first session: 01 Architects as project leaders – understanding the role. This can be followed by all, or some, of the follow up sessions. We recommend allowing between four to eight weeks between sessions to enable delegates to consider, apply and embed their learning.
Delegate numbers are limited in order to maintain quality of the training.
Course content
The recommended content for each session is as follows:
01 Architects as project leaders – understanding the role
Introductions – to this position
- The Role of the Project Leader
- Organising resources
- Delegation and allocation of tasks
- Leadership characteristics
- Leadership tools and techniques
- Appointments and services
- Conclusions and actions
02 Architects as project leaders – understanding context and priorities.
- Introductions
- Total projects
- Involvement by work stage
- Design demarcation
- Not wasting creativity
- “Show me the diagrams”
- Defining quality
- Profiles of Project Leaders – and designers
- Conclusions and actions
03 Architects as project leaders – understanding your clients and customers.
- Introductions – to participants and stakeholders
- MAG Factor – management, administration and guidance needs
- Types of clients
- Useful briefs
- Client involvement in projects
- Twenty questions to help understanding
- Features of frameworks and relationships
- Conclusions and actions
04 Architects as project leaders – responding to being put on the spot.
- Introductions – pressure from all directions
- Plans of Work
- Taking on and picking up a new project
- Killer questions and being put on the spot
- Problem escalation and resolutions
- Different locations and localities – with their impacts
- Signing off situations and options
- Completions and handovers
- Conclusions and actions
05 Architects as project leaders – understanding the ever-expanding design team.
- Introductions – to a changing world
- Design Team compositions
- Surveys and investigations
- What do Cost Consultants do?
- Information for Budgeting
- And what do Project Project Managers do?
- Design Team fee rates
- Cost reduction exercises
- Extra fees for additional efforts
- Conclusions and actions.
CPD
CPD Certificates are issued to all attendees.
