Architecture and Soft Skills
Concepts of Soft versus Hard Skills
Relevance to the work of an architect
Overview of key skills to be reviewed
Outcome: Awareness of the importance of soft skills in the world of architecture
Foundational Communication Skills
Advocacy and Inquiry
Observation and assessment
Listening
Feedback
Attitude
Outcome: Awareness and understanding of some of the building blocks for effective interpersonal communication
Skills: Communication Skills
Scoping and Framing
Defining context and boundaries
Preparing for meetings
Outcome: Tools to help you plan the breadth and depth of your architecture projects and meetings
Skills: Planning and organizing, Strategic thinking
Stakeholder management
Communications plans
Project milestone reviews
Outcome: Awareness of fundamental principles of project planning
Skills: Planning and organizing, Systems thinking, Learning
Project Management
Preparing for a review
Principles of effective reviews/interviews
Leading the session
Outcome: Improved capability to lead review/interview sessions
Skills: Interpersonal communications, Analysis and synthesis of information
Review and Interviewing Sessions
Meeting Facilitation
Meeting preparation
Safety for open discussion
Hearing all voices in the room
Addressing problems and issues
When to have a meeting / when not to have a meeting
Outcome: Understanding of skills needed to lead a workshop or review meeting
Skills: Planning and organizing, Interpersonal communications, People leadership
Presentations
Principles of effective presentations
Storytelling
Storyboarding
When to have a meeting / when not to have a meeting
Outcome: Improved understanding of the importance of sharing stories around your architecture efforts
Skills: Storytelling, Interpersonal communications, Teaching
Governance principles
Committee structures and methods
Decision records
Prioritization
RACI
Conensus and Negotiating
Outcome: Improved understanding of the importance of creating shared views so that meaningful action can be taken
Skills: Governance, Creating shared views, Flexibility, Building trust
Governance and Decision Making
The importance of emotion
Trust and relationships
Communities of interest
Coaching
Outcome: Improved capability to relate to and engage others to help you achieve success
Skills: Political and cultural awareness, Interpersonal communications, People leadership, Team building, Building trust
Influencing and Networking
Paradigms
Strategic thinking
Learning
Outcome: Improved capability to generate new ideas
Skills: Strategic thinking, Empathy
Creativity and Strategic Thinking
Creating the environment
Prioritization
Health and well being
Outcome: Awareness of fundamental principles of managing your time and the time of others
Skills: Time management
Time Management
Change Management
Basic principles
Resistance to change
The “ACTIOn” model for change