design leadership
4 MINS
Pull up a chair: How designers actually get influence
Premankan Seal Chief Design Officer, addressed a room full of designers, from early-career starters to seasoned seniors, about designers wanting a "seat at the table." He shared his insights on how designers can earn their place in the rooms where decisions are made.
As designers – we all want a seat at the table. We all want to be in the rooms where decisions are made, and eventually, we want to be the ones making those decisions.
The paradox lies in how we go about it though.
As designers – we all want a seat at the table. We all want to be in the rooms where decisions are made, and eventually, we want to be the ones making those decisions.
The paradox lies in how we go about it though.
You have to earn it through your work. Influence comes from leading with work.
You have to earn it through your work. Influence comes from leading with work.
You have to earn it through your work. Influence comes from leading with work.
It seems obvious when you talk about it, but few manage to internalise this until much later in their careers, usually after quite a few failures and bumps in the road.
Here are a few principles on how you actually get influence, and why it has nothing to do with your title.
Be genuinely good at what you do
We want to get into the right meetings or have the right job title, thinking that is where influence lives. It, in fact, lies in the weeds of execution. Waxing poetic about design concepts is one thing, actually executing on them tends to be a lot harder.
But do it well, and the people that matter, are forced to listen to you, since your work speaks louder than your words.
We want to get into the right meetings or have the right job title, thinking that is where influence lives. It, in fact, lies in the weeds of execution. Waxing poetic about design concepts is one thing, actually executing on them tends to be a lot harder.
But do it well, and the people that matter, are forced to listen to you, since your work speaks louder than your words.
Ask questions that solve real problems
We spend too much time asking, "How do I get into the position of influence?" and too little time asking "How do I make decisions that will move the business forward?"
When you solve for the outcome rather than the credit, you become the reason things get done, and that makes it impossible for people to ignore you.
We spend too much time asking, "How do I get into the position of influence?" and too little time asking "How do I make decisions that will move the business forward?"
When you solve for the outcome rather than the credit, you become the reason things get done, and that makes it impossible for people to ignore you.
Have humility to make space for new ideas
There are no shortcuts to mastering your craft, but there are behaviours that can lead to better solutions and trust. Listen more than you talk.
When you choose to listen deeply, you stop defending your own viewpoint and start absorbing the critical, hidden context. You are trying to have a comprehensive understanding of the problem, making you the most informed person in the room. And the person who understands the problem best will inevitably design the most effective solution.
There are no shortcuts to mastering your craft, but there are behaviours that can lead to better solutions and trust. Listen more than you talk.
When you choose to listen deeply, you stop defending your own viewpoint and start absorbing the critical, hidden context. You are trying to have a comprehensive understanding of the problem, making you the most informed person in the room. And the person who understands the problem best will inevitably design the most effective solution.
People remember those who deliver what they promised.
People remember those who deliver what they promised.
People remember those who deliver what they promised.
4. Build credibility by doing what you say
4. Build credibility by doing what you say
Credibility is the currency of influence, and you earn it by doing what you say you will. Be the person everyone can count on to finish tasks on time and with good quality.
Doing and promising to do are very different things, and the gap between them is where trust is lost.
People eventually forget titles, seniority, and who made the most noise in the room. But they remember who delivered what they promised.
Credibility is the currency of influence, and you earn it by doing what you say you will. Be the person everyone can count on to finish tasks on time and with good quality.
Doing and promising to do are very different things, and the gap between them is where trust is lost.
People eventually forget titles, seniority, and who made the most noise in the room. But they remember who delivered what they promised.
5. Be the person people count on
5. Be the person people count on
If you have to choose between sheer brilliance and simple reliability, bet on reliability every single time. Brilliance is unpredictable, it’s a flash in the pan. Whereas reliability is an asset that stakeholders can bank on.
Show up and keep showing up. Be the person whose actions are predictable. When you are consistent, you build a reputation so strong that it allows you to take risks because people trust that you will land the plane.
If you have to choose between sheer brilliance and simple reliability, bet on reliability every single time. Brilliance is unpredictable, it’s a flash in the pan. Whereas reliability is an asset that stakeholders can bank on.
Show up and keep showing up. Be the person whose actions are predictable. When you are consistent, you build a reputation so strong that it allows you to take risks because people trust that you will land the plane.
Impact compounds over time
The endgame is a compounding loop. Good work leads to trust. Trust leads to better opportunities. Better opportunities lead to more impact. And more impact leads to more trust.
If you stay the course, the results will accumulate. And when that happens, you don’t need to ask for permission, and you don’t need to chase the seat.
You just need to pull up a chair.
The endgame is a compounding loop. Good work leads to trust. Trust leads to better opportunities. Better opportunities lead to more impact. And more impact leads to more trust.
If you stay the course, the results will accumulate. And when that happens, you don’t need to ask for permission, and you don’t need to chase the seat.
You just need to pull up a chair.
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An often riveting list of design and tech resources!
©2025 Canvs
Subscribe to Design & Tech Weekly
An often riveting list of design and tech resources!
©2025 Canvs
Subscribe to Design & Tech Weekly
An often riveting list of design and tech resources!
©2025 Canvs