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OPINION
Rethinking leadership in AEC
H ave you ever actually stopped to think about your leadership style? No, seriously – between back-to-back meetings, tight deadlines, and the never-ending email vortex, it’s easy to forget that how we lead matters just as much as what we’re leading. In a fast-paced AEC world, servant leadership empowers teams, boosts outcomes, and shapes a culture people want to join.
Leadership styles are like favorite CAD shortcuts; everyone’s got one, even if they don’t realize it. There’s the autocratic “my way or the highway” type, the hands-off “let me know if it’s on fire” manager, the democratic leader who crowdsources every decision, and the visionary who talks in big-picture metaphors and forgets where the team parked. But let’s talk about one style that doesn’t get as much spotlight as it should: servant leadership. And no, it’s not about fetching coffee or saying “yes” to every request like you’re trapped in a never-ending RFI loop. Servant leadership flips the script: it’s not about people serving the leader, it’s about the leader serving the people. In the AEC industry, where collaboration is everything and the only constant is change, servant leadership isn’t just a feel-good philosophy; it’s a strategic advantage. Servant leaders listen first, empower their teams, and create environments where people
feel trusted and supported. And when engineers, architects, and scientists feel seen and heard? That’s when innovation, accountability, and genuine team culture thrive. Picture this: instead of micromanaging a project into oblivion, the servant leader asks, “How can I help you do your best work?” They clear roadblocks, advocate for resources, and occasionally, just occasionally, bring donuts to the morning meeting. The result? Lower turnover, stronger project outcomes, and teams that don’t dread Monday
Alan Lloyd, CIH, CSP, ENV SP, WELL AP
mornings (well, not as much). So, here’s a little homework:
■ Are you leading in a way that lifts your team up or just pushing them forward?
See ALAN LLOYD, page 4
THE ZWEIG LETTER JULY 21, 2025, ISSUE 1594
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