Not Just Building Places; Building Leaders

Posted by Lenette Wells on Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Coaching Whistle

Back in February, I earned a Foundations of Coaching Certificate at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH . Okay… I can hear the question coming… Wait, aren’t you an architect?

Yes, I am an architect. And as I have taken on new roles through my career- architect, project manager, proposal manager, principal, board member and business unit director - I have discovered two things. First, how strong leadership is essential to a successful organization, and second, how much I thrive on creating an empowering and learning space for passionate Architectural/Engineering/Construction professionals, that in-turn brings about sustainable change in our built environment. That sounds kinda architect-like, right?

Coaching to me is the key to developing leadership that impacts our environment and helps Entech and our clients succeed. It’s a great fit for me as I want my mark on the world not to be the places I build, but rather the energy I unleash in passionate professionals to reimagine and adapt our built environment. My recent training taught me that being a great coach is about listening deeply, asking good questions, offering learning resources, helping to reframe perspectives, and supporting decisions to take action and work through change. So my blog is one place I can implement this coaching approach to grow leadership.

If you are tasked with planning, managing, or building anything from wastewater plants, manufacturing plants, academic and research laboratories, to higher education campuses, I want to help you to grow your leadership skills to bring about positive changes to those places we impact.

So let’s start with this recent article from Harvard Business Review about how leaders are forged in crisis. With so much change and uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I think this article provides inspiration and guidance in these tough times. What do you think? Do you regularly apply these techniques in your leadership style? Do any of these concepts resonate with you? I’d love to hear what your experiences are.

Authored by:
Lenette Wells, AIA Photo

Lenette Wells, AIA

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Categories: Entech, Engineering, & Beyond

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So great to hear, Lenette! You sound like an excellent coach and leader.
Posted by Heather Uczynski on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, 9:52 AM
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