Can you be hired by someone only to tell them they’re wrong? Biting the hand that feeds you? If you’re hired as an expert on the topic can you tell them that they don’t know what they’re talking about? Can your expertise cause these confrontations? The fact that you’ve been trained to understand the nuance of the problems, you’ve practiced the craft for years, does that require a conflict? The process is supposed to be collaborative, a joint venture, a meeting of the minds. But, one half of the team is clearly better skilled at the task. One half of the team is pulling more weight. And in fact you were hired for that very reason. Hired for your talent and your knowledge and your expertise. Hired for your ability to solve the problems, to create the framework for the problem, and come up with multiple answers to the problem. But it’s a team sport. You and your client are working together for the solutions.

Do you teach them? Do you bring them towards your level of experience? Do you share what you know? Do you inspire?

or do you condescend? Do you stand above them in judgment?

Do you tell them that they’re wrong? or do you show them why they’re wrong? 

As architects, we are hired to know what we’re doing. So, we’ll have to tell the client that they’re wrong. The trick is to make them appreciate it when we tell them.