As businesses turn to the digital realm for success, new and exciting career paths are being forged for those who create and manage digital solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the clearest pathways leads from roles such as database analyst, technical consultant, designer, engineer or developer to that of architect. But not everybody thinks they have what it takes to follow that path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s not unusual to feel some self-doubt when you\u2019re heading into a relatively new profession. After all, it\u2019s not as if you can seek advice and inspiration from generations of Salesforce Architects<\/a>. Almost every architect I\u2019ve ever met said they had such doubts and pushed through them, accepting that it\u2019s absolutely okay not to know everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here, we speak with Emily McCowan<\/a>, Salesforce Architect at Deloitte Digital, and Alex Crossan<\/a>, Salesforce Architect and Senior Manager at Davanti Consulting, about the five things they wish they knew during their journey to becoming Salesforce Architects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To be a good architect you don\u2019t have to know everything, but you do need to be resourceful. You have to know where to find answers, and then always follow up with the client once you have those answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Influence has a lot to do with communication with different people, and how you present yourself. You have to develop a sixth sense for the undercurrent of what\u2019s going on. How can you pick up on undercurrents of tension, for example, within a client organisation, whilst finding out what the client really needs? How can you align with that to help you influence the client to accept the solution that will be best for them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Much of your day will be spent leading. People will look to you for guidance, clarification and unblocking of obstacles. You\u2019ll spend a lot of time guiding your tech team, and collaborating with project managers. People think of an architect as a super developer, but it\u2019s a very different role that is as much about leadership and management as it is about technical talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEmily McCowan on leadership and real-world challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Don\u2019t feel you have to know everything<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. You must appreciate the art of influencing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. You are a leader \u2014 accept it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n