The Art of Managing Up

Recently in my managing career, I read an article by Wayne Turk titled "The Art of Managing Up." I don't remember where I found this article, or if someone recommended it to me. The article can be found here. It proved to be a perception changing article. 

First, if you work for a company, I would definitely read this article. If you work for yourself, you still have customers/clients that you need to 'manage up.'

It was an important article because it clarified to me several key points. 

• I was struggling too hard to change my boss to my way of doing things. That was clearly the wrong approach. It reminds me of Jim Croce's lyrics to "You Don't Mess Around With Jim:"

"You don't tug on Superman's cape 

You don't spit into the wind 

You don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger 

And you don't mess around with Jim"

• Managing up is really about stretching yourself - see article. What can you do to make the situation better (whether that is the project, the corporate culture, or the company itself)? I understood the need to stretch, but didn't realize my participation in dysfunctional company interactions was limiting my ability to manage up effectively.

• Communication - I cannot stress this too much. I had to learn my boss's communication style. Every manager, including me, has a different style. 

• See how they communicate with you, it usually is a good indicator of how they want communication to happen. 
• For some managers, ask - they might tell you, but observation of the manager's communication style will be more illustrative. When, how often, form (written/verbal) are all aspects.
• Some managers want discussion, some want just the 'short and sweet' discussion.

• Lastly - provide solutions to the problems you bring to your boss. Be a solver, not a whiner. Does your solution need to be complete (helpful, but not required). The solution does need to be thoughtful, cogent, and provide a path to success. 

Managing up is not manipulative, but a method to create a stronger 'bond' with your boss and create an better work environment

---

David Haynes, NCARB, PMP, LEED AP
Ideate Director of Consulting

David is a Registered Architect, Project Management Certified Professional, who previously had his own architectural practice and was President of a commercial design-build construction company for 15 years. A graduate of University of Arizona, he has worked as an Architect, contractor, developer and as a national construction manager for a national retailer. David currently provides business process analysis, virtualization and change management solutions for AEC clients across the United States involved in the design and building industry. Follow David on Twitter: @dhaynestech 

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This post was originally published on David’s blog Connecting the [Data]… 

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Ideate, Inc. Tech Team Member Kate Ming Earns California Engineering License

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 01/21/2014 - Ideate, Inc., an Autodesk Gold Value Added Reseller, today announced that Ideate AEC Application Specialist Kate Ming, having passed all required Professional Engineer (PE) and Civil exams, was awarded her Civil Engineering license through the California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and Geologists (BPELSG) on December 18, 2013. 

Kate Ming has a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley. Prior to joining Ideate in May of 2013, Ming was engaged in general civil design on large infrastructure projects for a multinational company. She is versed in roadway, rail, and utility design. She also has experience with utility demand analysis and Low Impact Development plans. As a Civil 3D Autodesk Certified Professional Kate provides training and support for Civil 3D, AutoCAD, and InfraWorks.

“We congratulate Kate on this achievement,” says Bob Palioca, President of Ideate, Inc. “Her continued professional growth only enhances the expertise she brings to the Ideate team and her ability to assist our customers as they implement fast-evolving BIM technologies to maximum advantage.”

About Ideate, Inc.
Ideate, Inc. is a leading Autodesk solutions provider, offering quality software, training, support and custom consulting to AEC professionals. Established in 1992 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Ideate is recognized as a Gold Partner for Architecture, Engineering and Construction, one of Autodesk's highest levels of authorization. Ideate, Inc. operates Autodesk Authorized Training Centers (ATC) in California, Oregon, and Washington. For more information visit www.ideateinc.com

Ideate, Inc. is also an Autodesk Authorized Developer with 25+ years’ experience in software development and Ideate Software has specific focus on Building Information Modeling (BIM).

Ideate, Inc. Named Platinum Partner by Bluebeam® Software

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 1/15/2014 - Ideate, Inc., an Autodesk Authorized Developer and leading Autodesk solutions provider offering quality software, training, support and custom consulting services to the AEC industry, announced today that Ideate has been awarded Platinum Partner status by its strategic partner, Bluebeam Software. Meredith Jung, Channel Sales Specialist at Bluebeam Software, presented a plaque in acknowledgment of the award to Ideate President Bob Palioca at the Ideate-hosted joint Customer Appreciation Luncheon and Holiday Party held at the Autodesk Gallery, One Market Street, San Francisco, California on December 10, 2013.

Tim Teigen, AEC Sales, Ideate Inc. says about Bluebeam, “At Ideate, we are always looking to partner with technology firms whose solutions expand yet simplify the workflow of our customers. With Bluebeam, we’ve found a product that is powerful way beyond its price point and gives our clients tools that legitimately and easily promote collaboration and coordination on any size project.”

“We are delighted to receive this acknowledgment from our valued partner Bluebeam,” says Bob Palioca. “Our partnered relationship has streamlined customer access to Ideate software solutions, training and consulting services and virtualization. The right tools and solutions can be within customer reach faster and easier thanks to this alliance.”

"For Bluebeam Authorized Resellers, meeting and exceeding sales goals is just a part of the challenge," says Stacey Kirsch, Bluebeam Software Channel Marketing Manager. "To be named a Bluebeam Platinum Partner, our resellers must also complete a comprehensive, video-based training program called the Bluebeam Crash Course, and impress our internal Channel Sales team with their knowledge of our flagship product, Revu. As a result, our Bluebeam Platinum Partners do not just sell our products, they partner with our end users to integrate Bluebeam solutions into their processes and achieve real results."

More information about Ideate, Inc. and Bluebeam is available on the Ideate, Inc. Products page. 

About Ideate, Inc.
Ideate, Inc. is a leading Autodesk solutions provider, offering quality software, training, support and custom consulting to AEC professionals. Established in 1992 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Ideate is recognized as a Gold Partner for Architecture, Engineering and Construction, one of Autodesk's highest levels of authorization. Ideate, Inc. operates Autodesk Authorized Training Centers (ATC) in California, Oregon, and Washington. For more information visit www.ideateinc.com

Ideate, Inc. is also an Autodesk Authorized Developer with 25+ years’ experience in software development and Ideate Software has specific focus on Building Information Modeling (BIM).

About Bluebeam Software, Inc.
Bluebeam Software makes smart, simple solutions for paperless workflows based on the PDF format. Founded in 2002 in Pasadena, California, Bluebeam’s award-winning PDF creation, annotation and collaboration solutions are used today by the world’s top architectural, engineering and construction firms, oil and gas companies, manufacturers, as well as government agencies and municipalities for dramatically improved workflow and more sustainable paperless operations. Bluebeam supports customers in over 65 countries directly through its Account Services team in addition to a global reseller network. For more information, visit Bluebeam Software. 

# # #

How to Stay Out of the Dark When Rendering in Revit

For those of you who have spent any time rendering, you probably have discovered that the entire process requires a lot of time and patience. After spending a considerable amount of time perfecting your settings and running many test renderings, nothing can be more frustrating than having lighting issues. As an AEC Applications Specialist and technical support specialist with Ideate, Inc., I have seen many cases in which people complain that their renderings in Revit are too dark or completely black when completed. If you are running into this issue, you may want to look at some key lighting settings to determine if they are the root cause. Verify the following four items and you shall see the light:

STEP 1
Verify that you have the appropriate Lighting Scheme selected for your view. Revit offers (6) different lighting schemes to choose from. For example, if you select the scheme called ‘Interior: Sun only’, then you will not be able to render your view with any artificial light fixtures. 

STEP 2
Once you have determined the appropriate Lighting Scheme, verify that your Light Groups are turned on with a checkmark and that dimming is set to 1. Keep in mind that you can only select Artificial Lights when a Lighting Scheme contains Artificial Lighting. For example, if you select the scheme called ‘Interior: Sun only’, then you will not be able to select any artificial lights fixtures.

STEP 3
Verify that you have selected the appropriate Daylight Portal options for sunlit interior renderings. In order to select the Daylight Portal options, first click the Edit button under the Quality setting of the Rendering dialogue box. This will then open the Render Quality Settings dialogue box. Next, select which rendering quality you want (Draft, Low, Medium, High or Best) then click the Copy to Custom button. This option will then allow you to select which openings you would like to have daylight come through.

STEP 4
If your Artificial Lights are turned on, but little to no light is coming out of the fixture itself, then verify whether your lighting fixture family has geometry, such as a diffuser, that is blocking the light source definition. If you find that there is a diffuser, check to see if the diffuser material has a transparency. If the transparency is not selected, or the percentage is very low, you will see little to no light emission from your fixture.

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Sash Kazeminejad, LEED AP
AEC Application Specialist
Sash Kazeminejad brings proficiency in Autodesk solutions including AutoCAD and Revit Architecture to Ideate customers. His industry experience includes project management, IT, and staff design for Hennebery Eddy Architects in Portland, Oregon. He has completed seven divisions of the Architectural Record Exam, leads Revit workshops, is LEED AP accredited and is on track to achieve California licensure in 2013 with Oregon to follow. In his academic life, Sash was awarded a Montana AIA Scholarship, earned a BA in Environmental Design, an MA in Architecture from Montana State University (MSU) and taught Building Information Modeling (BIM) and related topics at MSU Gallatin College. As a Revit Architecture Autodesk Certified Professional, Sash provides Revit Architecture training and support for AEC firms.

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Where Did My Room Tag Go After Placement?

As an AEC Applications Specialist and technical support specialist with Ideate, Inc, I will admit that strange graphical issues with Revit are a hot topic. Some of these graphical issues are related to driver or software update needs, while others may actually be user related.

I have run into a few occasions in which customers place a room tag in a room only to have it not show up after placement, getting the dreaded “None of the created elements are visible in Floor Plan…” error message. Due to natural frustration, we tend to click multiple times in the same location, hoping that Revit will have a change of heart and show the room tag. After all, the adjacent rooms tags are already showing up, so why should this room be any exception? Even more frustrating or confusing (depending on how you look at things), you may have another view of the same plan and you can see the room tag that you want. So, what might be causing a room tag to disappear once it is placed? Well, there may be a couple of problems that are worth looking into:

1. The first check is to see if the room was turned off in the view that you are in. Clicking on the Reveal Hidden Elements button (the light bulb in the view control bar) will show you if your room was hidden or not. If the room shows up as a red color, then it was hidden in your view. Right-click atop the room and Unhide the room element to see if your Room Tag appears.  
2. If you find that the room was not hidden in the view and the tag does not show up after placement, then you may have some Plan Region interferences, which is worth investigating. Here is an example in which some plan regions were interfering with the placement of the room tag:

Figure 1 - So far placement of Room Tags is working as indicated by the STAIR and VESTIBULE.

Figure 2 - Placing of Room Tag looks like it is going to work, however, the room outline is not showing up for the PROBLEM ROOM.

Figure 3 - The result is the dreaded "None of the created elements are visible in Floor Plan..." error message. 

Figure 4 - Upon closer examination, we find a couple of Plan Regions near the room, which MAY be the culprits.

Figure 5 - After duplicating the view for testing purposes and then deleting the Plan Regions, the Room outline and Room Tag appear, indicating the Plan Region was at fault.

In order to investigate whether Plan Regions are at fault, follow these steps:

1. Take the view in question and Duplicate it with Detailing. The reason why I recommend this is if the plan regions were not at fault, then you would have to undo many steps in order to return the plan back to its original state prior to your investigation.  
2. Search your view for Plan Regions to determine how many you have in the view. You can do this several ways:  

1. Right click atop any Plan Region and select “Select All Instances in Entire View”.
2. Select all of the elements in your view and use the Revit Filter tool to select and isolate your Plan Regions. 
   
3. Use Ideate Explorer to assist you with this task. Simply set the display to the Active View, Sort by Category and find the Plan Region in the results. From there, you can Show Elements. 
3. After you find your Plan Regions, I recommend that you delete them one by one and see if your Room Tags appear. Once they do, you will need to assess your drawing to see how the removed Plan Region(s) affects your view. From there, you may need to make adjustments to your overall View Range or create a new Plan Region with a different View Range.

---

Sash Kazeminejad, LEED AP
AEC Application Specialist

Sash Kazeminejad brings proficiency in Autodesk solutions including AutoCAD and Revit Architecture to Ideate customers. His industry experience includes project management, IT, and staff design for Hennebery Eddy Architects in Portland, Oregon. He has completed seven divisions of the Architectural Record Exam, leads Revit workshops, is LEED AP accredited and is on track to achieve California licensure in 2013 with Oregon to follow. In his academic life, Sash was awarded a Montana AIA Scholarship, earned a BA in Environmental Design, an MA in Architecture from Montana State University (MSU) and taught Building Information Modeling (BIM) and related topics at MSU Gallatin College. As a Revit Architecture Autodesk Certified Professional, Sash provides Revit Architecture training and support for AEC firms.

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Each class is designed to give you specific, improved results in a particular topic. You can interact with the instructor right from your own office, while eliminating travel time. Because the class schedule rotates, you can easily select your topics of interest and choose the day which best meets your schedule.

Click here for class descriptions, times and registration link. Questions? Contact education@ideateinc.com

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All-In Strategies

I have received many nice comments about my blog post about being all-in - Are You All-In?.

What is interesting is that I have also heard that it is impossible to be all-in these days. Some of the obstacles stated are:

1. Frustration - how do I work with people at my company that are not all-in? 
2. How do I get others to be all-in?
3. How can I get others to notice that I am now all-in?

FRUSTRATION  
Work is full of frustration. Lack of time, competing priorities, office politics, etc. Some team members get so frustrated, they just give up. We all feel frustrated at times. It may seem that some of your work colleagues do less, talk more, and don't seem to be as invested in success as they should be. What are some strategies to overcome your frustration?

• Realize that there are some people who will never be all-in. Don't invest your time in them. They are 'energy suckers'. 
• Consistency - that is the key. Be consistent in actions and interactions. You are either all-in or not - there is no 50% all-in.

GETTING OTHERS ALL-IN 

Getting other to go 'all-in' is not possible with words, or emails, or meetings. Your team members must decide for themselves to be all-in. Show them through your actions, your enthusiasm, and your conviction. That example, through your actions, is the only way others will see the benefit of being all-in.

HOW TO GET NOTICED

You want management to know you have upped your game. Here's what managers want to see:

• Actions - not Words
• Interaction/Communication - not 'Yes Man'
• Enthusiasm - not Passive/Aggressive
• Proactive - not Reactive
• Value Add - not Status Quo
• Work Within System - not going Rogue
• Think about how Company makes profit - not your Paycheck.

With the new year, start a new dedication to being all-in.  Stay the course, see the prize, and feel the satisfaction of a career well done.

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David Haynes, NCARB, PMP, LEED AP
Ideate Director of Consulting

David is a Registered Architect, Project Management Certified Professional, who previously had his own architectural practice and was President of a commercial design-build construction company for 15 years. A graduate of University of Arizona, he has worked as an Architect, contractor, developer and as a national construction manager for a national retailer. David currently provides business process analysis, virtualization and change management solutions for AEC clients across the United States involved in the design and building industry. Follow David on Twitter: @dhaynestech 

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This post was originally published on David’s blog Connecting the [Data]… 

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