Risky Business – Work/ Life Balance
2007 Convention Program
San Antonio, TX
What does it take to make architecture a sustainable profession, capable of serving a diverse and rapidly changing society? What happens when the skills and abilities, firm investment and productivity are lost to female and minority attrition? Family and personal life is universally understood as “priority”, but our profession requires more of us, within the office and the community. While these demands are common to all architectural professionals, they appear to take the largest toll on female architects as evidenced in attrition rates and firm leadership demographics. Learning how to deal with these conflicting priorities is critical for curbing current rates of burnout, attrition and decreased productivity.
What strategies and techniques have worked for you? What policies, benefits, perquisites or support structures does your firm have in place to reconcile family obligations and work load? How do you advocate for yourself and your concerns within the workplace? How should a firm leader manage disparate staff priorities and still maintain productivity and creativity within the office?
Additional Sources for Information and Discussion- www.matriarchitect.com – A blog produced by the 2007 AIA National Convention matri.ARCH.itect panelists.
- www.momsrising.org – A website dedicated towards “Working together to build a family-friendly America.”