Establish a Pattern of Learning
During my years in architecture school perhaps the thing I learned the most was not so much the theory behind architecture, the technicalities of various software programs, or the science of building. It was something else entirely. Don’t get me wrong, each of these is very valuable to me, but underlying the knowledge of my industry I gained through a formal education was something deeper. From my classes and studio projects what I really learned the most was, in fact, the process and essence of learning. And I began to understand that self-guided learning continues well beyond the diploma into the various phases of my life and career. Moreover, the beauty of education is that we can become aware of what makes us as individuals “tick.” We develop our likes and dislikes, our strengths and weaknesses. And if carefully nurtured, our strengths allow us the privilege of contributing to society as a whole.
“Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?”
- Benjamin Franklin
Focus on Your Strengths
All too often in our busy day-to-day work environment, our natural talents go untapped. In our respective industries of building, mechanical, or infrastructure design, we frequently find ourselves putting out fires and meeting deadlines. It seems more and more that I spend a majority of my own day simply answering emails. If people have the opportunity in their respective work environments to focus on their strengths every day, they are much more likely to be engaged in their jobs and more likely to report having an excellent quality of life in general.
The beauty of the AEC industry is the variety of projects in which we can become involved. This variety can allow us to stretch our knowledge if we are willing, and to really focus on our strengths. I have always been fascinated with CAD and BIM programs and they were a real reason I pursued a career in this industry. It is an exciting time to be involved in such work. The AEC industry is overflowing with new tools—each containing fantastic parametric capabilities designed to increase efficiency.
Find the tools and workflows in the programs you are good at and grow your understanding of them. Become the in-office expert. For example, I enjoy building parametric families in Revit. During work on my projects and when I find time elsewhere, I continue to build and develop the company library of family components. Because of this I frequently find myself being asked to provide input on design possibilities by architects. This provides huge value—not only to yourself, but also to the company as a whole.
Grow Your Strengths
Once you learn what you are good at, continue to make it better! There is such a variety of software for the AEC industry. We use AutoCAD in all its varieties, Civil 3D, Revit and its different versions, Inventor, Navisworks, ReCap, and many more not listed here. You can’t know everything about every program, but you can have a good general knowledge of their capabilities.
My approach is to have a general knowledge of the main programs being utilized as a whole, but to hone my skills on the software that helps me best perform my job functions. And I certainly spend time making sure I’m a specialist in key areas of a program or two. This gives me an edge above the competition and makes me a desirable employee and collaboration partner for design teams. In addition, it is important to have a visibly proactive approach to solving design problems in any given program. I call this “being flexible.” Try to become someone (if you aren’t already) who will assist teams in figuring out how to construct a building component in a certain piece of software. Strive to be the one who will find solutions. This will require you to do research on the Internet, or through other means, about what has been done in a similar situation and what were the results.
With access to information on the Internet such as blogs, videos, and forums, there really is no excuse to not try to figure things out. There are enormous benefits to doing this, primarily because you’ll probably find a solution! Beyond this, though, is the fact that you just increased your knowledge, you shared it with your team, and they think more of you now. Perhaps in a forum you make some comments or ask additional questions—and from these come potential connections with others.
Gain Wisdom, Not Just Knowledge
Knowing how to do something is knowledge. Using software such as Revit or AutoCAD to design a building is applying that knowledge daily with a series of picks and clicks in an effort to make a building model come together. Your role in a company is vital to its well-being. The technology will always be changing, and updating your knowledge of it is crucial to career success. However, behind this knowledge should lie a firm foundation of industry understanding. How do building systems integrate? How are wall systems constructed? What does it take to support a load from a concrete deck on a freeway bridge? These questions address the wisdom side of the coin.
Beyond college, employees gain wisdom by working on projects, and through experience it is picked up. I’ve personally had the privilege of working for proactive companies that were concerned about employee success and education. Junior staff members can benefit between integrated overlap with various members of management. Senior staff can share their wisdom on the design and building process, assisting junior staff with an understanding of building methodologies. In return, junior staff can accomplish in greater detail and efficiency the many tasks involving the complexities of the software. It really is a win-win situation.
Develop a Network of Talent
Knowing what you are good at and focusing on it is critical to success. Knowing where you fall short in certain areas is equally important. I’ve found at points in my career that I’ve been more successful with software when I reached out and asked for assistance from others versus stubbornly trying to go it alone for long periods of time. Not to say that it’s a bad thing to be stubborn. It’s good to be tenacious, but just realize at some point it is best to move on and acquire some assistance. As mentioned previously, blogs and forums are a great resource. But beyond these, having connections with real people are invaluable.
While on a recent training trip, a staff member and I were struggling through a particularly tough problem with an adaptive curtain wall system being applied to a complex organic form in Revit. We were both very persistent in our efforts to come to a solution, but none were presented. Finally he made a few phone calls to people in his network and they suggested a couple of approaches we hadn’t tried. While their suggestions didn’t completely solve the problem, they did point us in the right direction, which alleviated at least a few hours of effort. I’m grateful he made that call and that he has built up his network. Connections with others are really what make life worth living and a career worth doing.
Social media sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook are gaining such a foothold in the industry. They are a perfect medium in which to establish a network and be part of a community with likeminded individuals. A key part of this is joining groups where you can transfer knowledge. Join a group, ask questions of your own and answer the questions posted by others when you can. You will quickly find yourself learning more than you ever thought possible, and you will find others coming to you for assistance. It is a great way to increase your influence in an increasingly crowded market.
Attend Conferences with Your Colleagues
I am grateful that the many employers I have worked for have encouraged professional development through conferences. Events such as Autodesk University, RTC, the AIA convention, or the ASCE Conference are huge opportunities for learning and sharing. Having grown up in a small community with very little architecture to admire, travel to these conferences has been, for me, a huge learning experience in itself! Classes and breakout sessions contain a plethora of information, and they are available for all levels of expertise. I appreciate the chance to listen to keynote speakers, many of whom I studied in architecture school. I always strive to deepen my network by mingling with other people from around the world. It is fascinating to learn alternate approaches to design problems and see other industry leaders strive to better themselves. If you are unable to attend these conferences due to budgetary limitations or because of your remote geographic location, look for other opportunities.
Many communities hold software user group meetings on a monthly or quarterly basis. These groups, established by users, are instrumental tools to help you learn and grow. I find myself asking my contemporaries who work in other firms many questions and most of the guys are happy to share information. If a particular user group doesn’t exist, be the proactive individual you are and get one started! Contact your associates in other firms and get together. If you are asking questions, you can bet others are as well.
In addition, look to your software reseller for training events they hold. Typically a reseller will hold an annual event designed to reward existing customers and bring in new ones. Many local and Autodesk experts hold classes at these events, which usually have a minimal cost, if any, associated with them. Regardless, take advantage of the resources your reseller provides. They have very intelligent people who usually hold trainings outside of your area and can bring back valuable information for you.
Teach Others
Many people cross our paths in the journey of life. And it takes many people to educate just one. When someone takes time to share something with you, don’t be selfish, pay it forward and do the same for someone else. It raises the level of understanding for everyone around you. It allows you to take on bigger and bigger challenges. That knowledge transfer also connects us personally. Your coworkers will appreciate you, and management will certainly take note. You will be regarded as a team player and a person who has the best interests of others in mind.
A primary benefit of helping others is that you will reinforce your own understanding and wisdom. I chose to be an educator for this main reason. It’s rather selfish of me, but I do find myself more able to retain what I have learned when I simply share it with others. There are so many opportunities to educate others. Look at establishing a weekly learning session with the staff in your office. Invite various staff members at different levels to come and learn something. Perhaps it is something technically related to the software; maybe it is management explaining a process of building. It could simply be a session where engineers and architects explain contracts and specifications. Just make these sessions valuable, and choose topics that will speak to the various roles of the staff.
Using current projects as examples is an excellent and relevant choice. Work with management to obtain their buy-in for these trainings to inspire their staff. Good management should encourage training, and they will certainly see less turnover if they allow for, and elevate, the knowledge base.
Conclusion
Individuals and organizations need to work together to address continuing education. Of course, a certain amount of knowledge is required to obtain employment, but as a team the employer and employee should set goals and create a plan for continued growth and success. Learning is an investment individuals should make in themselves, and a company should make in those individuals. As a partnership, the rewards in this investment will yield strong returns in company efficiencies and personal satisfaction.
