the future architecture academy’s Post

Earlier this week, I was driving my six-year-old daughter, Allira, to school when a work call came through. I asked Allira to stay quiet for a bit and she nodded. "Hello, Nikita speaking." For the next 5 minutes, I explained to a potential client why they should create a brand messaging strategy before refreshing their website copy. After the call ended, Allira asked, “Why did you talk like that?” “Like what?” “Like, funny… kinda weird…”, she hesitated, “it’s like you have a different voice.” She was right. I have a work phone voice — it’s perky and slightly higher-pitched. (My husband, Kieran, will attest, that I also have a “what-time-will-you-be-home?” voice. Not nearly as perky.) The same thing often happens to our written voice when writing website copy. Our tone changes. (From casual to serious.) Our words change. (We use words like, per se, vacillate, and threshold — so we can sound smarter and more “professional".) But your tone of voice is your secret weapon. In the world of same-same architecture websites, your tone of voice makes you SOUND different. I’m feeling festive & generous today, so I'm sharing an exclusive video on tone of voice. In this video, I walk you through my tone of voice framework and share examples of architecture websites and non-archi companies that I believe have nailed their tone of voice. Seriously, watch it. You won't find this type of architecture-specific tone of voice advice anywhere else. (I know this, because I created this framework based on my 8+ years of writing copy for all types of architects all around the world.) *** The above post is an excerpt from a recent newsletter. If you like it — then sign up to my newsletter here: nikitamorell(dot)com/newsletter

Managing projects applies to architectural, structural and M&E consulting too & how do you deal with some or all of these of these ? 1 : Communication issues: To deal with at the start of a project by agreeing to deal with instructions by email or texts or by social media or just plain confirming matters by letters - and yes it still happens ! Miscommunication or lack of clear communication can lead to misunderstandings, delays, or even dissatisfaction. It's important to establish effective communication channels and ensure that both parties are on the same page. 2 : This Invoicing & Payment terms : Dealing with payment-related issues, such as late payments or disputes in valuations or just disputes when something has gone wrong , can be uncomfortable. It's important to establish clear payment terms and follow up on any payment-related matters promptly. Mark into your diary when payments are due and act on immediate payment delays. If the client is late on paying you it does not always bode well moving forward. 3 : Unrealistic expectations: Dealing with clients who have unrealistic expectations regarding project timelines, costs, or outcomes can be challenging. Managing these expectations and finding a balance between what is feasible, practical and what the client desires, can all be a delicate task. 4 : Based on the scope of works - clients wish lists “ project costs and planning “. It’s important to obtain estimated costs of the project upfront so the client can match scope of works to estimates provided and to help remove items from the “wish list “ to more realistic costs. 5 : Then there is Scope creep: When clients continuously request additional work or changes beyond the initially agreed-upon scope, it can be challenging to manage project boundaries and ensure that the project stays on track. To get on with each other, you have to know , like and trust each other