Tailgate for a Cause!

Innovators and Adapters, Mentors and Proteges

How easy or difficult do you find it to present yourself consistently, over a long period of time as:

 

a perform who conforms?

a person who proliferates ideas?

a person who needs the stimulation of frequent change?

 

These questions and others from the Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory were pondered by each member of the ELP class during our June meeting.  On a scale from “very easy” to “very hard”  we each reflected on whether or not we considered ourselves to be “methodical and systematic” or a person who “risks doing things differently.”   The responses to the questions had numerical values resulting in a score that indicated whether we were innovators (who generally produce numerous ideas, prefer less structured environments, and like to find new ways to do things), adapters (who prefer to generate a smaller number of high quality ideas, work within the established system, and like well defined restraints) and bridgers (who fall somewhere in between).  In short, a contrast was established between those who like “doing things differently” and those who like “doing things better” and those who strive to balance or link both together.

Once we all had a score, we arranged ourselves from high to low and reviewed the results.  Most seemed to feel that they did indeed fit into the stereotype of innovator, adapter, or bridger as described.  Perhaps not surprisingly, this group of architects and designers tended to skew towards the innovator side on average.  Pete then lead a discussion on the implications of these varying personality types, how those traits affect teams, and what this means for a team leader.

Also at our meeting, we had the pleasure of hearing from four panelists, Kimberly Byrum of Alvarez & Marsal Real Estate Advisory Serices, Laura Davis of HPD Architecture, Terrence Maiden of Corinth Properities, and Dennis Stacy of Stacy Architectural Studio, on the topic of mentors and proteges.  Several of our previous panelists had touched on the importance of this subject, but at this meeting, the four shared their advice and stories on an in depth level.  Having a mentor is important, they emphasized, but having a protege is also important.  Some shared how the act of being a mentor had been as meaningful an experience as being mentored, not only because a younger person can bring fresh ideas and perspective to the table, but also because there is a additional motivation to uphold high standards  of excellence as an example to the protege who is watching.  The discussion then turned towards current efforts in the field of architecture, both from firms and from the AIA, to foster mentorships among its members. 

Do you have a mentor? we asked each other.  How have our mentors helped us?  What do we wish a mentor would do for us?  How will we someday mentor those who will be at our experience level, looking up to us for help and guidance?

Gwen Morgan, SHW Group

May

The weekend of May 17-19 was a busy one for the ELP class.  On Friday we convened our monthly meeting at Allsteel's showroom in the design district where we heard from three industry leaders: Jeff Forbes of the Beck Group, David Zatopek of Corgan Associates, and Mitch Milby of Milby, PLCC.  The three men formed a panel which brought together three diverse perspectives: architectural, construction, and legal.  They shared with the class how leadership is demonstrated amongst the various trades that interact in the design and construction of buildings.  All three emphasized the importance of mentorship in professional development, an idea which has become a recurring theme in the class this year.  Although we missed having Pete there in person, we were able to pick up a few of his tidbits of wisdom by watching pre-recorded videos of his thoughts on what motivates people (why they do what they do) and high performance teams.

On Saturday we embarked on our first major fundraising event for the expansion of the Promise House Teen Street Outreach facilities with an event hosted by Community  Beer Company downtown.  Community Beer Company was kind enough to offer up their space and donate a portion of entry fees to the cause (a thousand thank yous!).   It was a warm, sunny afternoon (not to mention International Beer day), and the place was soon full of architects, designers, their spouses, friends, and members of the community, laughing, talking, and supporting a cause.  A few local artists displayed their work.  Raffle tickets were sold, beer was drunk, and a good time was had by all.  Thanks to everyone who participated!  What a wonderful way to kick things off!

 

Gwen Morgan, SHW Group

Happy Hour, This Thursday - May 2, 2013

The 2013 Class Project: Promise House!

So with a few leadership sessions under our belts, the Class of 2013 is making strides.

The nametags have disappeared.  Driving to DCFA comes naturally.  (Even if parking still may not).  And you can bet that Pete DeLisle will leave you feeling challenged and inspired by the end of each monthly leadership training session.  Forgot a name?  Wanting more inspiration?  Well, there's always the Happy Hour...

So as the Class of 2013 began to develop those personal relationships with each other, they asked the question:

"...what should we do for our class project?"

The class project is a charitable, volunteer endeavor taken on by each ELP class.  It's often a civic, and/or non-profit need... presumably that can be filled by the fantastic talents of energetic young designers!  So what has the Class of 2013 chosen?  After a few great options, the Class quickly coalesced around the needs of one organization: Promise House.

Promise House seeks to provide homeless, run-away, and at-risk teens a safer path out of their current circumstances.  They provide many services, including shelter.  For a deeper dive, take a look at their website:  http://www.promisehouse.org/index.php/about-us

Promise House has a Street Outreach program that seeks to take these teens in.  Except, when they can't!  Due to a lack of space, they turn people away every week.  So... enter the ELP Class of 2013.  We'll be designing, permitting, and fitting-out shell space at their Oak Cliff facility in South Dallas.  The goal is to provide additional beds and communal space for at least a half dozen teens, who will otherwise be turned away.

The Class met with Promise House's executive leadership in March.  We were inspired by their vision and leadership as we toured the space, listened to ideas, and generally learned more about each other.  We left with a sense of urgency.  In the months ahead, we'll be advancing the design and documentation of the space.  But we'll also be promoting and fundraising for the project.

Bake sale, anyone?  (...um, really.  Not kidding!)


Jordan Thompson

KickOff Retreat at the Pump House

Imagine setting up a tent with four other people you met only twelve hours ago.

Oh, and you've all been blindfolded.

This was one of several unique (to say the least) activities the AIA Emerging Leader's Class of 2013 participated in at our kick-off retreat at the Pump House in January, led by Dr. Peter DeLisle.  We arrived at the Pump House bright and early on a Saturday morning, and began with breakfast, coffee, and an interesting fact from each person that they wished to share with the group.  The morning and afternoon sessions were grandly titled “Connections and Communications” and “Leaders and What Makes Them Effective.”  What followed was a series of group activities in which the class examined leadership and teamwork in the microcosm of simple activities like group juggling or building the tallest possible Tinker-toy structure in 30 seconds or less.  The tasks we were given for each exercise were straightforward and uncomplicated, allowing us to observe truths about the way people work together and how leadership develops within a team without the distraction of the complications of day-to-day work.  Like a science experiment, by carefully controlling external circumstances (the parameters of the activity), we were able to study the resulting behaviors in isolation.

So what does this have to do with tents?  During the afternoon session (formal title: “Leaders and What Makes Them Effective”), we were split into groups of five or six, blindfolded, then told that our task lay before us.  Feeling around with our hands in the darkness, we found a bag with sticks and plastic-y cloth.  We quickly realized our skill levels varied tremendously, from the inexperienced (“How did you guys know it was a tent?”) to the expert (former Eagle Scout).  Those of us with experienced team members quickly learned to listen and take instructions, as the leaders of this task naturally emerged from among the sightless.  In my own group, the fastest way to accomplish this task was for team members to quickly communicate what they observed from their perspective, and then allow the leader to assess and instruct accordingly.  The simplicity of the activity allowed us to think critically about the process and reflect on what concepts might relate back to our day-to-day work.

As the day drew to an end, we gathered together to talk about what each person hoped to gain by attending the class.  As people shared their backgrounds, current projects, and goals for the next year, it became clear that the activities we'd engaged in throughout the day had served another purpose beyond conveying leadership concepts.  Those activities had transformed a group of strangers into a group that had learned to work together and begin to trust one another.  Although the Emerging Leader Program takes place over 9 months, the group meets together formally only once a month, in other words, only nine times.  Yet in those nine meetings, a class project must be selected, developed, coordinated, published, and executed.  Taking nine months to feel at ease working with the other members was not an option.  One crazy day of practice working out small challenges has us primed and ready for the big one to come.

Plus we learned a thing or two about tents.

 

Gwen Morgan, SHW Group

Emerging Leaders Program - Class of 2013

 

 

The AIA Dallas Leadership Committee is proud to announce the 2013 class of participants in the Emerging Leaders Program.

 

Lauren Boepple – Perkins+Will

Aimee Burmaster, RID – PageSoutherlandPage

Shannon Carpenter, AIA, NCARB – Gensler

Jared Eder, Assoc. AIA – Gensler

Tucker English, AIA – HKS

Jarod Fancher, Assoc. AIA - Architecture Demarest

Katie Hitt, Assoc. AIA – AIA Dallas

Meredith Hunt, Assoc. AIA – t. howard + associates

Ian Means – Beck Group

Monica Miranda, AIA – JHP

Masoud Monfared, SBA – HKS

Gwen Morgan, IIDA – SHW Group

Mia Ovcina, Assoc. AIA – Dewberry Architects Inc.

Mara Salas, Assoc. AIA – Corgan

Dustin Siegrist, AIA – HKS

Xavier Spencer, AIA – Good Fulton & Farrell

Jordan Thompson, AIA, NCARB – Perkins+Will

Julianna Turner, AIA – Merriman Associates

Houston Wurtele, AIA – Corgan

 

The program is Co-Chaired by: Charles E. Brant, AIA of Perkins+Will, Amy King, AIA of SHW Group, Michelle Northington, AIA of PageSoutherlandPage, and Chris Owens, Assoc. AIA of The Samuel Group. The program is instructed by Dr. Pete DeLisle of The Posey Leadership Institute at Austin College.

 

The Emerging Leaders Program is open to participation from all Dallas area architectural firms through an application process to the AIA Dallas Leadership Committee. Information describing nomination details for the 2014 class will be posted on the AIA Dallas website this fall.

 

Special thanks to Acme Brick, Daltile, Dimensional Print, and L.A. Fuess & Partners for sponsoring this year’s class.