Time Management for Architects: A Complete Guidline

Architectural projects demand a lot of management skills. The amount of time an architect needs to put into the design face is quite significant. So, you can’t just relax and expect everything will be done within time without proper time management skills.

Famous architects like Richard Meier, Zaha Hadid, and Le Corbusier are known for their discipline in life. Discipline comes with proper time management.

To maintain a good work-life balance as an architect, time management is a must.

For you, we have come with some effective time management tips for architects. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Why is time management important for architects?

Time management is important for architects because of the hectic nature of the client-architect relationship. Clients demand a lot of work in a short span of time. To meet the level of their expectations, it’s very crucial to understand the importance of time management.

What should be the daily routine of an architect?

An architect should be agile in his daily life. You should wake up early in the morning and start work from then. A routine can be very subjective according to the individuals, but what remains constant is the resting period and getting proper sleep.

A good diet must be a part of an architect’s life. You shouldn’t waste time and make it a part of your routine.

12 Time Management Tips for Architects

Effective time management plays a vital role in getting success for an architect. As a creative design-based profession, time is everything. Here are 12 time management tips for you as an architect:

1. Planning

Planning is a very important phase for an architect. When a project has started, you have to make a flow chart of your tasks. You divide the time into three phases: research, design, and then execution. The deadline day should be kept in mind.

2. Set goals

Setting goals and giving incentives can increase your performance as an architect. Divide your tasks into little achievable goals and try to reach them. As a result, you and your fellow architects will find the necessary motivation to move toward your goals.

3. Be conscious about prime concern

You need to identify the tasks that need the most attention. In architecture, the design phase should be your prime concern in a project. So, giving proper precedence in the design phase is important. Also, case studies and research are also important before going to the design phase.

4. Get rid of distractions

Distractions can be very lethal for you as an architect. Each and every moment of your day is important to move towards your goal. You just can’t afford to have a distraction. So, get rid of everything that holds you back. Try to focus on your project.

5. Try to get help from co-workers

By prioritizing your work, you’ll understand the tasks you can delegate to your others. Works like research, documentation, and cad drawing can easily be delegated. Involve others and you focus on the more complex part of the project. Such as designing and structure solving.

6. Use time blocks

Keep time for client meetings, site visits, and concept development. Sometimes, clients change designs that can interrupt your work. The change can be so important that you can’t delegate to your juniors. Instead, you just keep time for this kind of chore and avoid disturbance.

7. Apply technology

Technology makes so much of our work easy and hassle-free. Lengthy processes like keeping expense sheets, and documents can be a headache. Use suitable technology or software to make your work more precise.

8. Use time management software

Time management software helps you track the billable works of your employees. This also helps to keep track of the projects, it’s expenses. Time management software helps to increase your productivity. It also helps you to stay organized even in a profession like architecture.

9. Avoid doing lots of task simultaneously

Multitasking can decrease your performance as an architect. It will also hamper your quality of work. Try to stay focused on one work at a time. Divide the time into several sections to not get into the cycle of multitasking.

10. Create a schedule

Maintaining a routine and following a schedule always helps. It pushes you to do well. As a result, you start to do your work more precisely thus increasing productivity. Try to keep some buffer time for unwanted distractions.

11. Communication is the key

To be a productive architectural farm, you should have good communication within your team. This can be achieved through constant talking and helping others. You need to understand your team and know how to get the best out of them.

12. Maintain balance

Man is a social being, not a robot. You need to have a perfect work-life balance to get the best productivity from you and your team. An architect shouldn’t ignore his family and expect it will bring good to his career. It won’t. Instead, it will worsen your creativity.

Verdict

Architecture and time management go hand in hand. To expect good performance from your team you need to have time management skills. Again, time management is a skill that comes with regular practice, determination, and discipline.

Try to invoke this skill in yourself and in your team as an architect. Time management skills will definitely help you in the long run with increasing performance.