Leadership ripples throughout the work environment. In modern society, leading another person takes collaboration. Effective leadership hones empathy, motivation, accountability, and practicality. Architects work in a similar way of trying to understand their role as collaborators toward a greater goal.
Welcome to the inaugural season of Architecture 5 10 20! I’m your host, Guy Geier, Managing Partner of FXCollaborative Architects in New York. Guests from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences related to the built environment will come to share their thought leadership. Our conversations will start with understanding how they arrived at what they’re doing now. More importantly, we will focus on discussing their vision for the future, looking out 5, 10, and 20 years.
Today, we’re joined by Winnie da Silva, a business coach focused on leadership development and enhanced team performance. Winnie’s portfolio consists of a wide range of business leaders, including many in the architecture and design professions. Her background in social work shaped her holistic coaching style leading to enhanced team dynamics and company culture. As organizations restructure themselves to the post-pandemic hybrid workplace, Winnie’s insights into the future of leadership and work-life balance will be more important than ever.
Listen to Winnie speak about which characteristics she often observes in strong teams, efficient team members, and effective leaders. There is a shared responsibility mindset that causes individuals of all levels to be aligned on the value of what makes them a team. Winnie describes the balance needed to maintain a modern work environment and explores the benefits of teams that embrace diversity of thought and experience. Her thoughts on work environments encourage a positive view of interdependent work for a solid team.
Through continued self reflection, Winnie helps shape the leaders of tomorrow to work through their blindspots, raising their self-awareness and resiliency to resolve the complexity of team dynamics and career advancement. Winnie’s leadership training looks past the dated separation of work and home, and embraces an integration of the professional and personal. Listen to how Winnie is helping the future leader leverage all that they are to redefine organizational identity.
Time stamps:
[01:39] – Winnie da Silva recalls what led her to go out on her own as a business coach.
[03:04] – How did working as a social worker influence Winnie’s coaching style?
[06:00] – Winnie lived all over the world. She talks about how interacting with diverse crowds impacted her.
[08:11] – Leadership principles are generally similar across industry.
[11:21] – Winnie explores the similarities and nuances of leadership in architecture.
[14:01] – Why are mid-level roles the hardest to navigate?
[16:40] – Winnie comments on the new model of work that involves complexity.
[19:01] – Winnie emphasizes the need to train and support leaders as the work environment continues to shift.
[21:57] – What are the key factors of building winning teams?
[24:00] – What are the key factors of high performing team members?
[25:59] – Winnie explores the benefits of teams that embrace diversity of thought and experience.
[28:45] – What are specific characteristics of leadership that people should invest into?
[31:33] – Thank you Winnie for helping the future leader leverage all that they are to redefine organizational identity.
