How do you keep your skills sharp as a solution architect?

Read, apply, practice, repeat. Keep yourself updated by following tech journals, blogs and publications. Read their articles on cutting edge technologies. Understand the problems or use cases that these new technologies would solve and try to apply or conceptualize a solution with them. Otherwise it is just jargon that will not have much use. Become or continue to be hands-on by coding or designing using the technologies. Hands-on learning or practice stays in the mind for longer periods of time than just reading or watching videos. Repeat the cycle.

Alongside reading and learning, I would also emphasize on getting an hands-on experience for the solution you are designing. This will help SA to understand how it would be deployed and what could be possible integration challenges.

"Awareness" in systems and interfaces is crucial for a solution architect. Understanding the intricate connections and dependencies within a system allows for effective problem-solving and efficient design. It involves a keen perception of how different components interact, ensuring a well-integrated and robust solution. "Thinking Simply" is a fundamental skill for a solution architect. It involves distilling complex problems into clear, manageable components. A simple approach fosters better communication, accelerates decision-making, and enhances overall system comprehension. It enables the architect to devise elegant solutions that are easy to implement and maintain.**

Our industry is a knowledge driven industry, evolving continuously (style of diagramming, coding, deployment etc). It is important for an SA to keep up with the ever-evolving landscape to be able to offer relevant solutions. For this, an SA should spend some time going through the developments happening in his/her area as is mentioned under read and learn. However I do not entirely agree that this is the most effective way to keep skills sharp. That way, IMHO, would be to also practice what one has read, learnt & found useful. Once we start exploring in detail we develop a better understanding of the new skill and how best to use it. Each skill is like a tool in our toolbox, we need to know both, where to use and where not to use it.

I think Read and Learn is good habit . But best way is to implement . Problem paves way to solution . 1. Define Problem Statement. 2. Define Roadmap and milestones. 3. Read and understand. 4. Implement . 5. Get stuck . 6 Redo steps 3 to 5. 8. Create a MVP. 9. Fine tune and Create the Final product . Even you might take little more time and effort but at the end you will have knowledge like never before.

As a solution architect the basic understanding is that you have reached here after spending infinite hours of coding, if this condition has not been met than it's prerequisite please go back to investing your hours into coding. Secondly, digital solutions are not built in silos but with multi-partner and cloud and onprem technologies, hence as a solution architect having experience in broad spectrum of domains & technology expertise will that much help in your understanding when designing a solution. The landscape of solution designing is as well changing from architecting short-term quick solutions to building resilient purpose build solutions for successful products. Critical components coding for every assignment is where you start.

One practice I found helpful for learning new technologies was to go just a bit beyond the Hello World example on the website. I had a toy project that I would try to re-implement parts of in whatever tech I was looking at to get a deeper understanding and feel for it.

Keeping your skills sharp as a solution architect requires practice and real-world application. This approach hones problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills, boosting your confidence and credibility. You can do this through personal or professional projects, hackathons, open source contributions, or mentoring. Embrace these opportunities to excel in the evolving tech landscape. This method is my primary learning tool

I find it very helpful to engage in random pairing sessions with developers on tasks related to the solution architecture input received. That really is a superb way to to get alternative input and stay practical and not be stuck in some ivory tower.

Practical application of knowledge is essential for honing your skills as a solution architect. Engaging in real-world scenarios allows you to enhance your problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication abilities, while bolstering your confidence and credibility. To apply and refine your skills, consider taking on personal or professional projects, joining hackathons or competitions, contributing to open source or community endeavors, or mentoring and coaching others. Each of these opportunities presents a chance to further develop your expertise and experience.

This is very important. The technology landscape is so vast that it is very difficult to cover everything and develop deep understanding around it by oneself. By connecting with our peers we can learn from their experiences and share our own, compare notes if it is in the same area. This speeds up the learning curve. I have personally benefited from this by having conversations with people (about topics which I knew very little) and learn about that topic. These could be in-person conversations (best IMHO) or on call or chat or e-mails or community forums and they are very useful. We should regularly take time out to network and learn from others and share our knowledge as well (give back to the community).

An effective strategy for maintaining your acumen as a solution architect is to actively engage in professional networking and collaboration. It's through these interpersonal exchanges with peers, mentors, industry experts, and thought leaders that you can truly enrich your knowledge base. These exchanges provide new insights, share ideas, receive critical feedback, learn from others' experiences, and broaden your professional sphere. Leveraging platforms like LinkedIn can be incredibly beneficial for this type of professional engagement. By strategically utilizing LinkedIn's myriad of resources and features, you can build a robust professional network and continually enhance your competencies as a solutions architect.

Collaboration and networking are vital for solution architects to maintain their skills and stay updated on industry developments. By participating in professional networks, architects can share ideas, learn from others' experiences, and stay informed about new methods and technology. Collaborative projects help architects improve teamwork and communication skills, which are essential for successful solution delivery. Participating in forums, conferences, and meetings allows architects to learn about cutting-edge methods and new technology. Networking fosters an environment of ongoing education, allowing architects to stay flexible, knowledgeable, and at the forefront of business developments.

Networking with like minded architects help one to know technology trends..thats an excellent way of learning from each others experiences. There are forums like stackoverflow, linkedin which can be treasures of technical and business knowledge.

Completely agree! I always try to take on new technologies or approaches that others shy away from. Experimenting early with an evolving new technology can give you a significant advantage.

Experimentation and innovation are vital for maintaining your skills as a solution architect. They allow you to explore uncharted territory, question existing assumptions, and deliver value to your clients and stakeholders. To experiment and innovate, stay abreast of the most recent trends and advancements, evaluate new solutions or prototypes, and consider embracing agile or lean principles to foster creativity and flexibility in your projects.

Innovation and experimentation are crucial for solution architects to stay sharp. They can study new technologies, techniques, and architectural patterns by actively experimenting. Building prototypes or sandbox environments provides real-world experience, allowing architects to understand the real-world effects of their design choices. Adopting an innovative culture stimulates creative thinking, leading to solutions that defy expectations. This helps architects stay ahead of industry trends and contribute to innovative innovations. Experimentation allows for learning from successes and failures, promoting ongoing improvement.

Being hands on with the evolving new technologies by performing small POC's help gain confidence during delivery. It is good to keep up to the pace of the fast growing technology . Skilling in the process/ people and technology should be the key focus with a growth mindset.

It's essential to continuously evaluate and improve your skills through various strategies. These include conducting post-project reviews, staying updated on industry trends, taking courses and workshops, setting clear goals, seeking mentorship, maintaining a knowledge base, staying hands-on with practical experiments, being humble and open-minded, regularly assessing skills, networking with professionals, and sharing expertise. Regular self-assessment and skill gap analysis can help identify areas for improvement. Networking and participating in conferences and online forums can also help share expertise and help others. This continuous evaluation and professional development will help you continue to grow as a Solution Architect.

In my opinion, being a good listener and having transparent conversations help an individual to grow. Have SMART goals and set realistic / achievable goals. Having a mentor will also help to drive decisions when at confusion.

In my experience, the only way you get good at something, is by doing a lot of it. Architecture is no different but doubly-so for a solution architect. It's a volatile sink-or-swim environment but the reward is constant development & growth. I have worn other architecture caps in my career but this one is probably my fav.

As a solution architect, maintaining sharp skills is crucial for adapting to evolving technologies and delivering optimal solutions. Firstly, I stay abreast of industry trends through regular reading of blogs, articles, and participating in online forums. Continuous learning is a cornerstone of my approach, involving online courses, workshops, and webinars to deepen my understanding of emerging technologies. Practical experience is indispensable, so I actively seek opportunities to work on diverse projects.Certifications are key markers of expertise, and I pursue relevant ones to validate and enhance my skills.

Architects can discover behaviors or process which can be reused across Projects. Its important for architects to build frameworks (customized from togaf ) or technology blueprints or templates, roadmaps etc.. They can be the secret sauce in future success. Any good process, patterns or best practices should be documented.