Pursue Your Passion

Pursue Your Passion
By William A. Browne, Jr., FAIA, LEED AP
Founding Principal, RATIO
SKL XI

Leadership is the common trait for all who are involved with Lacy Leadership Association.  It’s the focus of many monthly sessions, all aimed at achieving the ultimate goal of producing new community leaders.  Like you, I was fortunate to be selected as a program participant.  Learning from my mentor, fellow participants and the many people we met along the way, I gained valuable insight into what it means to be a leader.  My hope is that this article continues in the tradition of passing on the knowledge that I learned, just as those did before me, to help others achieve their goals.

What makes an effective leader?  For me, the answer to this question is passion.  Above all else, for people to believe in you and be inspired to work alongside you, you must exhibit passion for your profession.  I’m talking about passion that emanates from the heart – not some requirement of the job, but rather the thing that gets you out of bed and excited every morning.  Enthusiasm is contagious and can absolutely drive an organization towards success.  My passion happens to be architecture.

An honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses is critical to channeling your passion.  A strong leader is not afraid of facing and addressing their weaknesses.  Without a doubt, you need to exploit your strengths and find ways to bolster them to another level.  With regard to your weaknesses, surround yourself with individuals who excel in those areas and who will be seen by your clientele as experts.  Create an environment in which team members can thrive and achieve their goals – because a positive work environment is central to a fulfilled team that produces at the absolute highest level. 

The best leaders are usually the best listeners.  Nurturing your listening skills is an integral component to determining the leadership style necessary to achieve your passion.  A leader who masters the ability to listen, hearing what is and is not spoken (or written), can properly process the information and lead accordingly.  Sometimes a leader must be unwavering and decisive.  Other times, deference is the better course, allowing others to decide.  And still other times, building consensus results in the best decision for the group.  Leaders are often seen as capable speakers and communicators, but knowing when to talk is usually preceded by a good period of listening.  People will listen to a leader who listens to them.

Practicing humility in the face of success allows your passion to maintain perspective.  Ego is a very important component of leadership as it produces drive and confidence, however; unchecked, it can become a leader’s single biggest downfall.  As a leader grows and evolves, they should always remember from whence they came.  Every leader begins their path as a neophyte.  The most successful leaders realize that with age comes wisdom, but gaining that wisdom is an ongoing process.  Enjoying the moment is most satisfying, but be careful to not let your ego go to your head because it will distort your view.

Last, for your passion to become valuable to others, a leader must move beyond focusing only on their profession and transfer those skills into the larger community.  For an organization and its leaders to be truly successful, they must become a part of a greater whole.  Giving back to the community that supports and embraces your individual growth will lead to some of your most fulfilling experiences.  Bringing your passion and your community together will result in the alignment of your personal goals and the community’s goals, allowing both to achieve success.  Communities, like Indianapolis, succeed because their businesses succeed; and likewise businesses succeed because their community succeeds.  The common denominator is the leaders and their passion for both.

A wise octogenarian friend of mine once told me, “Keep your eye on the eagle.”  Why?  Because he soars above all, has the keenest vision and greatest perspective, assesses the situation before acting decisively, and is seen by his peers as the leader of the skies.  I hope you too can capture the eye of the eagle as you move yourself to the highest plane in pursuit of your passion.

William (Bill) A. Browne, Jr., FAIA, LEED BD+C is the founding principal of RATIO Architects, Inc.  An industry leader, Bill is known for his ability to produce unique and innovative solutions from challenging and complex projects.  Since founding RATIO Architects more than 25 years ago, Bill has focused his career on advancing both the quality of design and delivery of professional services.  He is the only Indiana architect with two featured projects on Columbus, Indiana’s famed architectural tour. 

Now serving in his 19th year as one of two mayoral-appointed architectural members of the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission, Bill has played a pivotal role in the revitalization of the city’s historic districts.  Former Governor Frank O’Bannon named Bill a “Distinguished Hoosier” and current Governor Mitch Daniels named Bill a “Sagamore of the Wabash” recipient for his design service to the State of Indiana, the highest awards given by the state to a citizen.

Art in combination with architecture inspires creativity and new ideas.  Bill has partnered with several nationally and internationally recognized artists including Robert Indiana, Dale Chihuly and J. Seward Johnson to develop creative works specific to his projects that have helped in raising the perception of “public art” in mid-sized cities.  As a result of these experiences, Bill has lectured on the interface of art and architecture and its impact on the public realm.  Bill is involved with a number of educational and nonprofit organizations, and continues to find ways to contribute to his community.

Contact Bill at wbrowne@ratioarchitects.com to share your feedback on his leadership lesson.