The architecture profession does a great job at discussing the importance of having mentors and organizations like the AIA actively help individuals meet others with a passion for mentorship . However, there needs to be more discussions about moving towards the need to have a personal board of directors rather than a single mentor. A firm may provide you with a mentor, buddy, or someone to sign off on your hours for your architecture license. But that is more of a coach than a mentor. It is like going on a blind date and expecting the other person to be the perfect match. A true mentor is formed through building a relationship, trust and respect. There is no one person in this profession that can be the perfect mentor for you.
Each professional has their own unique career path and experiences that define them. No two professionals have the same exact track. However, there are similar moments in a career that can be similar to others. An important aspect of mentoring is being able to step back while in different situations, and reach out when you have been through something similar to help. Both need to occur.
As a mentee, you need to speak up to learn about taking hold of opportunities, or understand when you are in a difficult situation. Otherwise, mentors that could help do not know you help you. If you want to take your career down a specific path or be on a particular project type, how will the office or your boss know if you don’t speak up? If you are overloaded or don’t understand something, how will your project team leader know if you don’t say something?
Part of mentorship is learning how to advocate for yourself because you are the only one that is carving your path. As you carve your path you may need help and support along the way, and that’s where the idea of a mentor can help. However, you need more than a single mentor. You need a group of people supporting you and being there to help in particular situations. A lot like your own personal strengths, you need to know the strengths of others and there they can help leave a larger impact.
This concept is about each person having their own board of directors. This board is a group of mentors that grows, shrinks, and changes as you move through your career. The members are meant to help guide you and each have their own particular purpose. Each board is unique based on your network, sphere of influence, and your needs. The board may change as you move through life, but having the support system is key.
An Architect’s Board of Directors
Here is an example of types of people that could be in your board of directors. Again each person’s values and needs are different, and change as you grow in your career. There may be additional members that are unique to you, or having two people for a particular member type. It is also important to note that not everyone is a mentor, and it’s not about having the largest board. It is about being able to identify a few select people that you consult regularly to get advice and feedback.
The Admirer
This is someone that aligns with your own career goals and aspirations. It can be helpful to be able to identify someone for this role so that you can learn from their experience, can help to define your own path, help find opportunities to springboard you forward, and general career advice. Your goals could be anything whether that be design, project type, particular values, planning, sustainability, business related, etc. If you are able to identify your own goals or two goals that can help you do define this role. And this member may change if you choose to take your career path in a different direction than originally desired. (Which may happen multiple times throughout your career) They can also be a source of advice if you are looking to change companies or positions.
Through a Different Lens
This is someone who approaches things differently from you. This is a powerful person especially as people often think there is only one solution or one way to approach something. Often this board member can help you to take a step back and approach a situation from a different angle to see possibilities that you may not have previously noticed. This helps to broaden our view and see beyond our own lens. It may not be someone that is opposite of you, but it’s someone that can help you get out of your own head.
People Person
This does not mean an extroverted person necessarily or that if you are extroverted that you do not NEED this board member. This is someone that can help to expand your network. This person may be someone that is a heavily involved member of an organization that you really aspire to get more involved. This could be someone to help you learn about the organization, learn how to get more involved, connect you with their network, and point you in the right direction.
This board member may be someone that simply has been around the industry for a while and has a vast network of connections. If you plan on owning your own firm, it could be about learning how this individual gained so many valuable connections. Or simply helping to meet their network.
Lastly, this could simply be a peer that enjoys networking and can speak well about themselves. Having that person to help you navigate a room of people you don’t know or learn how to put on that hat when needed. In the “Guide to Networking”, having a wing person at a networking event could be valuable to you.
The Sponsor
A sponsor can be a difficult member to identify and often people are hesitant to label themselves as a sponsor for someone. This is someone that can accelerate your career and speak highly of you when you’re not in the room. This takes a lot of time, trust building, relationship building to get to this point, and is a connection that is EARNED.
As a mentee, it’s important to understand the concept of a sponsor and what they can do. Your leadership may not be comfortable putting a label on it, but if you are a strong individual and do really well for the company there will be natural conversation about you are higher level discussions. It’s crucial to understand that these types of conversations do happen. And if there is someone that can speak highly of you when you are not in the room there is potential to accelerate your career.
Another component of a sponsor is understanding you as the young professional needs to live up to their expectations since the sponsor is putting their reputation on the line. It is up to you to live up to your potential. It is a two-way street.
The Challenger
This is someone that challenges you! They can help make things happen. This can be a crucial person when you are studying for the Architectural Registration Exams. It is a long process to get through all of the exams, studying after a long work day, and help pick you up you hit a bump in the road. This person could be a peer that is also studying, someone who has recently passed the exams, or simply another registered architect that knows the pressures of balancing work demands, studying, and social life.
This can be someone that pushes you to be the best person you can be. When you have a big idea, this is someone that encourages you, provides honest genuine feedback, and checks in as your progress.
These are some of the board member type options you can look at for creating your own board of directors. It is also important to note that those are just a suggestion, and there may be another spot that is important for your unique career path.
It is also important to note that not everyone on your board needs to be someone you work with or even an Architect. There may be a lifelong friend in a completely different industry that is your challenger and can push you to new heights! Or a professor you keep in touch with that is able to get you different perspectives on challenges that arise.
Think of your whole network as potential is creating your own personal board of directors. The sky is the limit and you never know where you’ll end up.
Written by
Katelyn Rossier, AIA, LSSBB