https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/azurearchitectureblog/armchair-architects-architects-vs-the-ivory-tower/3711703

  • Mistake of believing that funneling all problems through a small group of experts will produce only high quality work
  • Danger of getting to far removed from implementation details
  • Become a community servant, not a judge. Step out from the tower. Climb into the trenches and work toward goals together instead of criticizing
  • Balanced architects can see the trees and the forest. Go between levels in the organisation.
  • View of architects being in an Ivory Tower comes when the feedback loop is broken. Architect not seeing the hardship from decisions
  • Make decisions, then dive down and live with them to get feedback
  • Architects are successful when teams stand of their shoulders, not the other way around
  • People wants to do a good job
  • Human nature is not to make logical decisions, but what feels right. Recognize that. You need to converse and discuss things to have people feel ok with what is happening and the direction.
  • Sit in the boat with them. Don’t say “do it like this” and then leave for months just to return and ask how it has gone. Invest time in projects.