From Struggle to Strength: Leading Your Career in Architecture

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” 

- Steve Jobs

When I started out as an architect, the word leadership barely registered. It didn’t feature in my studies, and, as is still common in the profession, it rarely came up in the office.

It wasn’t until I transitioned into professional coaching that I came to see leadership as central to everything we do, both personally and professionally. Success, failure, and anything in between we often can trace back to leadership, whether it is excellent, lacking, or entirely absent.

And while we tend to focus on business or team leadership, there’s another kind that architects often overlook: personal leadership. Simply put, it’s about taking responsibility for your own growth, direction, and career.

Why Your Career Deserves More

Most of us will spend around 80,000 hours at work in our lifetimes. It’s the single biggest investment of time we’ll ever make. If those hours are spent frustrated, undervalued, or disengaged, the effects don't stay at the office, they often spill over into the rest of our life.

Architecture is demanding enough without a drifting career. You don’t need a 50-page personal business plan, but you do need clarity about where you are heading. Without it, years of effort can pass without real fulfilment.

A Career Is Like a Road Trip

I like to think of careers as road trips - unique and personal experiences.

At 18, I set off across Denmark with a friend in her father’s old Ford Taunus. We had no plan, no reservations, just a map, a tent, and the desire to enjoy our summer. It was chaotic, unpredictable, and unforgettable.

Years later, I travelled through Australia with my aunt and uncle. That trip was the opposite: every stop carefully planned, every detail prepared to create a memorable experience for me as their guest. It too was unforgettable, but for very different reasons.

Both trips were rewarding. The difference lay in the approach: one embraced spontaneity, the other relied on structure and preparation. Yet both required objectives and at least some planning. Careers are no different. Drift without purpose, and you risk losing your way. Add clarity, even just a simple map, and the outcome improves dramatically.

Three Pillars of a Career with Intention

A simple framework that works for anyone, regardless of personality or circumstance:

1. Self-Knowledge – clarity about your strengths, values, passions, and skills.

2. Vision – a compelling picture of the future worth moving towards.

3. Action Plan – practical steps to bridge the gap between now and then.

Self-Knowledge

This is the foundation. Honest self-awareness helps you make better decisions.

Consider:

• Strengths and Talents: What comes naturally? What do you enjoy? What do colleagues consistently seek from you? Often our greatest talents are the things we take for granted, yet they are where we add the most value.

• Passions and Interests: What energises you? Where do you lose track of time? Don’t dismiss interests outside architecture, they can inform your authentic career path.

• Professional Alignment: Which projects excite you, and which drain you? What kind of environment helps you thrive?

• Skills and Competencies: What expertise do you already have, and what do you want to develop, both technical and interpersonal?

• Values: What is important to you? What do you stand for? Do your projects, colleagues, and practice align with your values? Misalignment here is a common source of frustration.

Often, the answers are already there. Articulating them clearly and in a structured way brings clarity.

Vision

Architects are natural visionaries, yet many undervalue their own aspirations. Resist the urge to “value-engineer” your goals too early. Your vision doesn’t need to be precise, it can be broad or conceptual, but it should inspire you.

Try picturing yourself 10 years from now - paint a picture of your ideal career/life to date.:

What would you love to see?

• Who are you as a person? What is it about you that people value?

• What have you achieved? What are you proud of?

• What added meaning to your life and gives you a sense of fulfilment?

• What were the highlights of your life and career to date?

• What are you currently doing? What difference are you making?

I often encourage clients to set a BHAG – a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal – as their personal mission. It should feel bold, tangible, and aspirational, ideally with a long-term horizon. BHAGs are powerful motivators: even if you only get part of the way there, you’ll have accomplished far more along the journey. It might sound something like this:

• To become a partner in a practice and shape its design vision.

• To build a small respected studio known for human-centred work.

• To lead cross-disciplinary teams on ground breaking projects.

• To transition into urban development or policy to influence cities at scale.

• To become recognised for expertise in managing and delivering complex designs.

• To design a career that allows for travel, family, or creative pursuits.

• To specialise in a niche, such as healthcare, public art buildings or sustainable housing, and become a recognised thought leader.

Not every architect will want these goals. But every architect needs something that pulls them forward.

Action Plan

Vision without action is just a wish list. The final step is bridging the gap between today and your desired future. Like developing a project design, you start with the big idea, then layer in the detail.

• Map milestones: Define progression points, role transitions, or sector shifts.

• Develop skills: Build both technical and leadership capabilities.

• Build networks: Cultivate relationships that create opportunities and provide support.

• Increase visibility: Showcase your contributions and establish a reputation aligned with your goals.

Small, deliberate steps compound over time. Without them, you drift. With them, you lead.

Leading Your Own Career

In summary, taking ownership of your career comes down to three key steps:

• Know yourself – assess your strengths, values, and passions.

• Dream big – create an inspiring, ambitious vision.

• Bridge the gap – turn that vision into intentional action.

  
  

Checkpoints and Adaptation

Regular reflection and adjustment are essential to stay aligned with your goals and values as your career evolves.

• Align your approach with your personality - some thrive on detailed strategies, others prefer broad directional clarity.

• Review your progress annually - adjust as circumstances change.

• Always return to your why - why this project, role, or shift matters. Intentional choices are the essence of personal leadership.

• Embrace flexibility – careers rarely follow a straight line. Flexibility is not drifting; it is resilience.

Like a road trip, your career plan may be tightly mapped or more free-flowing. What matters is that it reflects you - your values, strengths, and passions. That is what makes it fulfilling.

Final Thoughts

Many architects assume that talent and hard work will naturally bring recognition. In reality, though, visibility and a clear sense of direction are just as important in a competitive field. Taking charge of your career doesn’t mean following a rigid plan, nor does it remove uncertainty. It’s about being clear, intentional, and adaptable.

With a clear direction of travel, you gain:

• Confidence in your path, even when progress feels slow.

• A sense of purpose that sustains motivation.

• A filter for decisions and opportunities.

• The ability to stay flexible while remaining aligned with your goals.

As architects we design places, spaces, and cities. The real challenge, and opportunity, is to apply that same imagination and discipline to ourselves.

You can plan your career on your own, but sometimes it helps to have someone who helps you see your potential, encourages you to dream bigger, and supports you in turning ideas into action. Whether it’s building a clearer roadmap or strategy, expanding your network, or raising your visibility, support can make the journey easier and more effective. If that sounds helpful, I offer tailored one-to-one coaching to help you get there. Please get in touch for a free consultation to discuss your options.

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All photos courtesy of Unsplash.