Design+Dialogue

Adapting new habits is always a challenge, but it is a necessary step in self-improvement and reaching important personal and professional goals. After the stress of last year, most of us are looking to 2021 with hope and are ready to make positive changes in our lives. Here are some [...]

The Strategy Workbook idea came from an event several years ago.  While planning I came across a task I had created that read “Cut and Paste New Strategy”. I was mortified. Was this what I thought of DBI, the firm I had grown from nothing since 2009? Was this what [...]

Attracting top talent will be critical as firms recover in 2021. Having a hiring process that is focused on a positive candidate experience is THE best way for firms to win top talent. Although a positive candidate experience should always be a priority, many hiring managers are spread too thin [...]

It is the end of the year and if you are like most you are setting goals for next year and beyond. It’s important to set meaningful career goals but be realistic. It is important to develop goals you can achieve. Doing so can increase job satisfaction, improve your quality [...]

In architecture and design, internal career mobility can set your firm apart. These days, employees expect the firms they work for to provide them with opportunities for career development and advancement. By providing opportunities for internal career mobility you can improve employee satisfaction and retention. Here are some of the [...]

The holiday season is the perfect time of year to show your team how much you appreciate them, especially this year when we can all use some extra cheer. Your team has worked hard all year under abnormally stressful conditions. Here are some ideas to show gratitude for your employees [...]

This Design+Dialogue is a simple happy holiday message. All of us at DBI wish all of you and yours a great holiday season and a happy new year.

COVID-19 has been the catalyst for many changes in architecture and design. Many designers have suddenly found themselves in a position where they are now working remotely. Meanwhile, office buildings around the country have been vacant for months. In light of the pandemic, architects have had to think creatively about [...]

Succession Planning is THE biggest undertaking a design firm owner will go through during the life of their firm. It takes thoughtful planning and years to nurture and execute. The firm owners I talk with find it all too daunting and never get started. In this video I share a [...]

Many people think it is difficult to find work in the art and design fields, but there are many benefits you can reap by pursuing a career in architecture, especially since the real estate market in the United States is better than it has been in a long time. Here [...]

For Thanksgiving, DBI presents an atheistic discussion on turkey stuffing.

Don’t ruin all the hard work of bringing in top talent but thinking that the first day is the end of the process. It is not. After the new employee starts it is critical for team leaders and managers to focus on strengthening the overall work environment to ensure that [...]

Last week I discussed the top reasons candidates are rejected your offer.  This week I share the solution, Interview Teams.  Check out the video on how to develop a well-organized and successful interview team. Here is the link to my Design+Dialogue regarding why candidates are rejecting your offer.  

From continued social distancing to underlying financial uncertainty, the world continues to cope with challenges that have never experienced before! Many of us are left looking for ways to adapt, accept, and bounce back from these stressful times. Resilience is an essential skill that will not only help you rebound [...]

If you’re having a difficult time hiring the right candidates for your architecture jobs, then it could be due to a flawed hiring process. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to improve. There are three common things you could be getting wrong in your hiring process and [...]

Leaders, those that really stand out, have learned to develop some very specific qualities. Take Sir Richard Branson for example, the self-proclaimed rule-breaker owns one of the world’s most recognized brands and has authored several books on important leadership principles. Instead of relying on traditional business strategies, he suggests that [...]

The pandemic continues to impact the architecture industry in many different ways. One trend that we’re seeing is that a growing number of people, especially millennials, are migrating away from cities in favor of suburban living to better insulate themselves from climate risks and COVID. Architecture consulting services and planners [...]

Last week I spoke to employees on how they can create a better relationship with their bosses and managers.  This week it’s the boss’ turn.  These three tips are ones any manager can start using today to develop better employee relationships.

As our country continues to navigate through unprecedented times, people are still learning how to cope with the fallout of job layoffs, canceled concerts and closed restaurants, bars and schools. Many of our normal routines have been replaced with extended lengths of self-isolation and social distancing from our friends, family, [...]

The relationship you have with your boss has been proven to be THE most important relationship of your career. In this Design+Dialogue I share a few ways to improve that relationship, whether it is currently good or bad. It was built from this post, check it out.