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Maybe we can sum it up to understand that when Mandy, or Nick, or I feel like it is not going to be well received to be assertive, there probably is good reason for that for whatever reason. That is what I meant by “having your thumb on the pulse”. Something is telling you that it is not right whether it is because your boss is meek, or because…[Read more]

Heard about some book on the radio today where the author was positing that management can be either ‘enhancers’ or ‘diminishers’. The diminishers make everyone work for them, and have the common characteristic of not valueing different types of people… I just got out of such an office. The ‘enhancers’ (I think that was the right word) see value…[Read more]

Many offices are still old school, or have too many old school people still in them. If you have less than 5 years, all you are is production. And if you are a woman, make that 7 years. I’ve unfortunately seen this first hand. Architecture (landscape less so) is still a men’s club in many respects. And many places still either hire you as a CAD…[Read more]

I agree, regardless of level of experience.

Your other posts kind of sounded to me like you were saying there should be a specific time limit on when someone can start participating in ‘the discussion.’ I don’t necessarily think that’s true as a rule.

I’m still not sure there really is any way to say there is a specific way things are all over.…[Read more]

I don’t see this as having a whole lot to do with seniors vs. young. It is more about pre-conception of how things should be and adjusting to how things actually are.

There are probably plenty of offices where new people can come in and be assertive right away and be appreciated for it. BUT, when it is clear that you are not in one of those…[Read more]

In terms of experience, I would have agreed with you a few months ago regarding the comment that,’more experience is better than no experience,’ but now I might say that the only thing worse than no experience is lots of really bad experience.

I think in this discussion, the ‘senior group’ is presuming a lot more about ‘the juniors’ than vice versa. Maybe that’s part of the problem?

Perhaps not made any easier as more employees postpone retirement later and later. It’s not just the partners who might be forty or fifty years older than you, but the other associates as well.

Of course, the issue remains, does this shed any light on Mandy’s original question about landscape architects being at the mercy or architects?

Do…[Read more]

Well we were required to take an architecture class and it gave me a general understanding of how buildings work and what an architect might be thinking when he is developing a design. It is very building focused as you would imagine. I would think that an overview of site design would give architects and appreciation for the nuances of site…[Read more]

Mandy,

I think you have hit on one of the important points. I have also been watching these commentaries on how different generations may (or may not) work together and I’ll confess I am curious to see how it plays out. There is nothing new in young people being passionate, idealistic and believing they have all the answers. Or believing that…[Read more]

I’m just saying that it seems like half of the threads on this message board are on the three unrealistic expectations.

One is that all landscape architects and interns are equal members of a charette team who should all be stepping up to introduce ideas and solutions to improve the project at all levels in every venue. Basically, that every…[Read more]

After all these posts, I can’t help but notice a divide between the younger generation of LAs and the older generation of LAs. This then leads my train of thought to several articles I’ve read on HBR (Harvard Business Review) about the generational divide between the gen x, gen y and b…[Read more]

It has nothing to do with shame Tim.

Andrew,

Your comment is a little hard to follow. I’m not sure this really has anything to do with having an ‘inferiority complex’ or even ego.

Can you clarify?

There are several things that get stereotyped in our profession. One is that there is or should be a certain way that employees work with each other and their employers.Another is that everyone should have an opprtunity to be the person who comes up with creative solutions each step of the way. Still another is that LAs are always hired to…[Read more]