Importance of Regularly Attending the Office

Ways to obtain work in Architecture | Professional Practice

In my previous article, I discussed the method of obtaining work “Importance of Telephone and Computer Networking”. Now we will move on with the discussion on the next method “Importance of Regularly attending the Office”.

Here is the list of different ways in which the work can be obtained:

  1. From Friends and relatives
  2. By your work
  3. By specialization
  4. By Luck
  5. By Winning architectural competition
  6. Through Chartered accountants and advocates
  7. Before setting up your practice
  8. Waiting period
  9. Setting up your office
  10. Telephone
  11. Computer Networking
  12. Regular attendance

Regular attendance | Professional Practice

You must be regular in opening the office and shall be present there at the appointed time whether there is work or no work. During the office hours, there has to be someone present in the office to answer the phone calls or to receive the visitors, in case you are gone out for work. Unanswered telephone calls during office hours make a bad impression. Be particular in attending telephone messages. Electronic answering machines can replace an attendant. You can virtually run one-man office with the help of a computer. Remember regularity in work is a virtue.

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Establishing Direct Contacts with Clients and Setting up Office

Ways to obtain work in Architecture | Professional Practice

In my previous article, I discussed the method of obtaining work “Waiting Period in Architecture”. Now we will move on with the discussion on “How to establish Direct Contacts with Clients and Setting up of your Office”.

Here is the list of different ways in which the work can be obtained:

  1. From Friends and relatives
  2. By your work
  3. By specialization
  4. By Luck
  5. By Winning architectural competition
  6. Through Chartered accountants and advocates
  7. Before setting up your practice
  8. Waiting period
  9. Setting up your office
  10. Telephone
  11. Computer Networking
  12. Regular attendance

Try to establish direct contacts with the client

At the beginning of your practice and even many a times later, you will come across some one who will assure you to suggest you name to a prospective client. Be careful with such middlemen. He may suggest you to hand over to him the sketches and that he may in turn show the sketches to the client. An established furniture maker in the town may ask you for furniture drawings, promising a client. Do not agree to this suggestion. As far as possible, you shall meet the client personally and discuss with him the requirements and the drawings. Many a times sketches handed over to middlemen are misused.

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Ways to obtain work | Waiting Period in Architecture

Ways to obtain work in Architecture | Professional Practice

In my previous article, I discussed the method of obtaining work “Things to do before setting up Practice”. Now we will move on with the discussion on the next aspect “Waiting Period before Architect gets a grip of his profession”.

Here is the list of different ways in which the work can be obtained:

  1. From Friends and relatives
  2. By your work
  3. By specialization
  4. By Luck
  5. By Winning architectural competition
  6. Through Chartered accountants and advocates
  7. Before setting up your practice
  8. Waiting period
  9. Setting up your office
  10. Telephone
  11. Computer Networking
  12. Regular attendance

Waiting period | Guide to Professional Practice

Let us compare – only for a restricted purpose two activities namely opening of a shop and a consultant’s office. A capital is required, to be invested for a premise in both the cases. But in a case of grocer’s shop perhaps further capital is required to get the goods in the shop for sale. As compared to that let us say lesser amount is required to furnish an architect’s office.

But the first day, the shopkeeper may start collecting cash amount on his cash counter through the retail sale. That is not the case with an architect. The occasion of receipt of fees is once in a way. Let us compare medical or legal profession with that of an architect’s. No sooner the patient is examined or treated or legal advice is given, fees are collected in cash. There is no daily collection in the architect’s office.

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Telephone conversation Etiquettes | Seven aspects of Personality Development

Telephone conversation Etiquettes | Professional Practice

In my previous articles, we discussed the “Importance of Personality Development for Professionals as well as students” and first six aspects of Personality Development. In this article, we will move on with our discussion on the seventh aspect of Personality Development “Conversing on a Telephone”.

Here are Seven Aspects of Personality Development

  1. Dress
  2. Address
  3. Good Language
  4. Punctuality
  5. Planning your work
  6. Habit to postpone the work
  7. Telephone conversation

How to converse on a telephone in Professional Practice?

Telephone has become a common instrument for us. Even then very few of us have a proper training to talk on the telephone. Here are few suggestions to improve your telephone talk.

A. Use of ‘Hello’ to be minimum on phone.

B. When you make a call, say who do you want to talk, rather than asking to the other end “Aap kaum?” ‘Who are you’? “Hello, Kaun Bolta hai”, this is a bad manner. Instead say, “Namaskar, Harish from Popatlal & Co.; May I talk to Chimanbhai?”

C. When you receive a call in an office, irrespective of the calling person being known or unknown to you, greet him and say where from you have received the call.

“Good morning, B. P.L.Ltd” OR “Associated Architects, Namaskar”.

If a person called is not in the office at that time, the person who receives the call shall show interest in attending the call, shall not sound indifferent to the calling person. If the calling party is unknown to you, you shall softly insist upon knowing the name of the person and where from was he calling and what was it about. The person receiving the call must show in his voice interest and concern in the business the calling party has with your office.

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