Ready to make the transition and expand your business, taking on more clients, and increase your project load? Before jumping in headfirst, let’s make sure you’re prepared. As you are looking to get more architecture projects coming in, here are some questions to ask yourself.
Do you have the resources - time, staffing, and the drive - to take on more work? There is a strict correlation between success and effort required. If you are struggling to manage your current workload, then maybe it is time to take a step back and focus on making improvements to what you have now. Whether it is through bringing in additional help, making your workflow more efficient, or simply taking a quick breather, only you know if you are truly ready to handle the extra responsibility that comes with an increased project load.
Okay, by calling it "red tape" I've already used a loaded, non-neutral word for what is understood to be necessary but often time and energy consuming. AND you know exactly what I mean! It’s definitely not one of the fun parts, but that doesn’t change the fact that there are certain hoops you must go through in order to get ( and close!) more architecture projects. A couple quick self-reflection questions for this include:
Do you have to gear yourself up just for routine trips to governmental/municipal offices?
Has your inventory of stress-relieving toys increased in the last few years?
Has your state organization specifically asked you to STOP sharing your thoughts on “Why It’s Great to Be a Landscape Architect” with new members?
There are required steps in every different industry or field, and LA is no different. However, how you respond to these necessary parts of your work can give you a sense of your ability to increase your project load. If you notice you are always taking a paper bag (to keep from hyperventilating), or a flask (to keep from committing a felony) to planning board meetings, you may want to put your expansion thoughts on hold.
This is a two-parter. The first part deals with how long projects and processes take. Even great projects where everything goes exactly to plan can still be multi-month or multi-year endeavors. How's is your patience in working through these kinds of timelines? And, if something should go wrong...
The second part of this deals specifically with setbacks. Sure, projects can take a long time when they go well. Weather, funding issues, new regulations, scope creep - there are lots of things that can push a perfectly organized and followed schedule out of true. How is your patience level with inevitable setbacks? Ready for that paper sack and flask again?
Today’s business is always changing, and you must be one step ahead of the pack to remain in the race. Your customers are always searching for the next best thing, and will not hesitate to jump on it. On top of this you need to stay fresh in your field and discipline. If you find you are rehashing the same 4 ideas over and over again, or if you find your are stymied or blocked more often than not, your well might be running dry. If that’s true, then it is time to do some serious brainstorming and research to come up with some fresh ideas not just for your clients but for your own well-being in this field.
While there are a lot of factors that go into taking on more work, these questions are helpful in gaining clarity about whether or not you are ready to get more architecture projects. If you know you struggle in one of the areas above, then we recommend taking time to improve your strengths in that area. The benefit will be helpful to both you as a professional AND to your business.