As the age of technology continues to explode, it is essential that we do not gloss over the amount of learning and skill it takes to address the ever-increasing complexity of technology, society and business. This moment affords us a unique opportunity. To design our learning levels and to design our professionals. I thought I would take that opportunity to show some of the skills necessary in architecture and how important they are to creating the next generation of leaders.

As one person said to me just yesterday, “The current business environment does not allow the application of such deep learning and reflection in architecture. We have to get in and do what we can fast.” I hear similar quotes regularly. And that is ok, there are times when we have to move quickly. But there are many more times we need a deeply experienced professional to be able to move quickly!

What does it mean to learn a skill? It means to have repeated success at that competency, over and over with the guidance of someone even more experienced. It means understanding theory, practice, and what can go wrong!