The Designer to Leader Mindset Shift: Transforming Your Interior Design Business
How to Stop Working IN Your Business and Start Leading IT
Episode 108
In this episode, I reveal the critical mindset shift that separates designers who are constantly overwhelmed from those who run thriving studios. Learn why stepping into leadership isn't about ego but ownership, the common mindset blocks holding designers back, and practical steps to start thinking like a studio leader rather than just a designer in your business.
Hope you enjoy the episode
Beth xx
When you first launched your interior design business, you likely wore all the hats—designer, admin, project manager, book keeper, stylist, and maybe even furniture delivery person. This hands-on approach was necessary to get started, but if you're still operating this way months or years later, you've discovered an uncomfortable truth: what gets you started in business isn't what helps you scale it.
Staying stuck in the day-to-day weeds—chasing approvals, finding supplier calls, redoing client presentations at midnight—is a fast track to burnout and it limits your earning potential.
The good news? There's a clear path forward. The transition from designer to studio leader isn't about ego—it's about ownership. It's about shifting from working in your business to truly leading it.
The Tell-tale Signs You're Still in "Designer Mode"
How do you know if you're stuck in designer mode rather than embracing leadership? Look for these warning signs:
You're involved in every client decision, no matter how small
Your evenings and weekends are consistently consumed by work
You feel anxious when you're not personally handling every detail
You're the bottleneck in your own business processes
You haven't taken a proper vacation in years
If these signs sound familiar, you're not alone. Many talented designers struggle with this transition, not because they lack ability, but because the mindset shift required is significant.
The Core Traits of a Design Studio Leader
Designers who have successfully made the leadership mindset shift share several key characteristics:
1. Clarity
Leaders have crystal-clear understanding of:
Their business model and how it generates profit
Who their ideal client is and what that client values
Their revenue streams and financial health
This clarity eliminates the constant second-guessing that plagues many designers. When you know exactly what your business stands for and who it serves, decisions become simpler and more confident.
2. Boundaries
Studio leaders establish and maintain healthy boundaries:
They set expectations early with clients and team members
They stick to their process consistently, even when it's challenging
They protect their time and energy as valuable business assets
When you're clear on your boundaries, you communicate them confidently, and clients respect them. This isn't about being difficult—it's about creating a sustainable business that serves everyone better.
3. Systems
Perhaps the most visible difference between designers and leaders is their approach to systems:
Leaders don't reinvent the wheel for every project
They create and refine workflows, templates, and checklists
They build predictable processes that deliver consistent results
These systems free up mental space and time, allowing for strategic thinking rather than constant reactivity.
4. Delegation
Studio leaders understand the power of strategic delegation:
They identify their highest-value activities and focus there
They become comfortable letting go of tasks others could handle
They invest in support that multiplies their effectiveness
If you're doing $100/hour design work but spending 10 hours a week on $30/hour tasks, you're already losing money. A leader invests strategically in help.
5. Vision
While designers often focus on the immediate project at hand, leaders maintain a broader perspective:
They think beyond this week or month
They plan for the next quarter, hire, or business phase
They make decisions based on where they're going, not just where they are
This forward-thinking approach prevents the short-term decisions that can limit long-term growth.
Common Mindset Blocks (And How to Overcome Them)
The transition from designer to leader isn't always smooth. Several common mindset blocks can stand in your way:
"If I don't do it, it won't be done right."
This stems from perfectionism or control issues. The reality is that leadership means letting go of some control to gain time, clarity, and freedom.
How to overcome it: Start with small, low-risk tasks. Document your process clearly so others can follow it. Remember that your way isn't the only right way—sometimes fresh perspectives bring valuable innovations.
"I can't afford to outsource."
Many designers believe they can't afford help, but the math often tells a different story.
How to overcome it: Calculate the true cost of your time. If you're doing tasks that someone else could do for less than your hourly rate, you're losing money by not delegating. Start small—even 5 hours of assistance per week can make a significant difference.
"I don't know where to start."
The path from designer to leader can seem overwhelming when viewed all at once.
How to overcome it: You don't need to transform overnight. Resources like podcasts, business coaches, or mentors can provide guidance. Having someone to help with this transition makes a significant difference in both speed and confidence.
Practical Steps to Develop Your Leadership Mindset
Ready to make the shift from designer to studio leader? Here are practical actions you can implement starting today:
1. Implement a Weekly CEO Hour
Set aside one hour each week where you don't do client work. Instead:
Review your finances
Look at upcoming capacity
Plan strategically for the next week and month
Identify potential issues before they become problems
That hour will change your business. Whether it's Monday morning first thing or Friday morning at the end of the week, just put it aside and think like a CEO.
2. Standardize One Thing Each Week
Rather than trying to systematize your entire business at once:
Pick one part of your process each week
Create a standard procedure or template for it
Use it consistently
Refine as needed
Pick one thing a week, and then the next week do something else. By the end of the year, you might have roughly 45 to 50 processes that you have documented. That alone will make such a significant difference to your business.
3. Define Your Studio Values
Get clear on the fundamental principles that guide your business:
What do you stand for?
What experience do you want clients and team members to have?
What makes your approach unique?
When you're clear on these values, many decisions become easier because you can simply ask, "Does this align with our values?"
4. Start Delegating
Begin with small steps:
Hire a bookkeeper to manage your finances
Work with a virtual assistant for a few hours each week
Collaborate with a junior designer on specific project components
This could be as small as hiring a book keeper or a virtual assistant, but taking that first step frees you up to lead.
The Transformation: From Overwhelm to Strategy
The shift from designer to studio leader doesn't happen overnight, but the benefits begin immediately:
Reduced stress as you gain clarity and control
Increased profitability as you focus on high-value activities
Improved client experience through consistent, systematized processes
Greater creative satisfaction as you reclaim time for design work
Sustainable growth that doesn't depend solely on your personal capacity
You didn't start your design business to feel like you're drowning in admin. You started it because you love the work, the creativity, the transformation, the people you get to help. But to keep doing the work you love, you need to lead the business behind it.
Your Next Steps: Building Leadership Muscles
Leadership, like any skill, develops through consistent practice. Here are three steps you can take this week to begin your transition:
Schedule your first CEO hour - Block it in your calendar and protect it fiercely
Identify one process to standardize - Choose something you do repeatedly that could be systematized
List three tasks you could potentially delegate - Be honest about what truly requires your personal touch
Remember that this journey is about progress, not perfection. Each small step toward leadership compounds over time, creating a business that not only survives but thrives—with or without your constant involvement.
You are the creative director and the CEO. You get to set the tone, the pace and the direction. And that is going to be different for everyone.
Your design business should support your life and creative vision, not consume it. By making the mindset shift from designer to leader, you create space for both professional success and personal fulfilment—the true measure of a business worth building.