Architects have A LOT of skills.
So much so that I think many consider that they can do anything.
(Indeed there’s some that do, and not unsuccessfully.)
But the question is: Should architects try to do everything?
And by that I mean, should architects do everything in their practice?
After all when they’re doing a project, they don’t do the engineering, the planning, the landscape design, etc.
Because there’s consultants for that.
They’re experts who can do the work better and faster.
So when the question comes up whether architects should be taught business at university, there’s only a small part of me that answers ‘yes’. A bigger part of me says absolutely not! There’s simply not enough time to cover all that’s useful and important at university, and that probably includes business.
That’s not to say architects shouldn’t study some aspects of business. Indeed in the year after I completed university I did a small business course at TAFE. It was invaluable but I must admit it still didn’t make me a good businessman. What it gave me was some understanding of business. So that when our practice finally recognised we needed expert help, I was able to have informed conversations.
More importantly for this conversation (or article) here, I didn’t need to study business whilst at university.
Where I’m going with this, is that there are experts out there that can help.
Those who do their work on the business better and faster than an architect can. With the objectiveness critical to good decision making. All whilst giving the architect more time to focus on the work they do well and are expert in.
It begs the question…
‘Who’ should be responsible for running the business side of your practice?
NOT
‘How” should I be running my business?
Architects absolutely should find a way to get better at business,
but maybe,
just maybe,
it shouldn’t require them to do that work themselves.
AI image created in Canva
