A Source of Optimism in These Crazy Times

Posted: April 14th, 2009 | Author: Jonathan Bahe | Filed under: Economy, Leadership, Professional practice | Tags: , , , | 6 Comments »

In a recent issue of Inc. Magazine, best-selling author and management guru Jim Collins was interviewed about thriving in light of the current economic “crazy times.” As someone who has made it his life’s work to study organizations, Collins exhibits a remarkable - and reassuring - energy about the future. When asked about the source of this optimism, he said,

“A lot of it has to do with the young generation. A general at West Point told me, ‘This is the most inspired and inspiring generation to come through West Point since 1945.’ I see the same thing with the young people who come to work for me. They have a sense of responsibility and service and a lack of cynicism that is remarkable and wonderful. It’s an ethos, and it’s collective. That’s what’s really powerful. It’s connected technologically. It’s not grandiose, but there is a fundamental assumption of being part of a much larger world and a much larger set of aspirations. The world can be a really awful, brutal, turbulent place. And yet I’m hopeful precisely because of this generation of kids. I really think we ought to just give them the keys as soon as we can. Let them run it.”

I think if we were to examine those architectural practices weathering the downturn most successfully, we would see the same optimism for the future - and for much the same reason. Leaders who remain connected to their staff and take time to mentor - and be mentored - are positioning their firms to retain the most talented staff and recruit even more as they continue to grow and succeed.

Firms are only beginning to develop strategies for engaging the collective ethos of the young generation. I am hopeful that as they begin to do so, we can overcome some of the cynicism that at times overshadows our profession and instead put the energy we all share toward improving the future.

Coming from a leading thinker like Jim Collins, this is reaffirming to my work both as a graduate student and with clients across the country. As a member of this young generation, I spend a growing amount of time studying our ethos and talking with fellow designers and architects who see the world in the way Collins describes. The many talented young professionals across the country are constantly energizing me, as are the leaders of firms that allow them to thrive. As with Collins, they too are the source of my optimism and excitement about the future.

I’m interested in any initiatives or cultural qualities of firms that have been successful in beginning to focus on this issue or ideas about how they may do so if they haven’t already. Strategic optimism in the face of the turbulence of daily news is contagious and elevates the profession and all those within it and affected by it.