EP 417 | Yes, You Can Lead: How Interior Designers Build Stronger Teams with an Improv Mindset with Shannon Hughes
Leadership in a design business isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about creating the conditions where great ideas, trust, and collaboration can thrive. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with Shannon Hughes, leadership expert and creator of the Connective Influence Model, to explore how an improv mindset can transform the way interior designers lead their teams.
Shannon shares how principles like adaptability, bold humility, and the simple practice of “yes, and…” help leaders move away from control and toward connection. You’ll learn how creating brave spaces and listening with curiosity builds psychological safety, strengthens team cohesion, and unlocks creativity—without sacrificing authority.
If you want to lead with confidence, stay present under pressure, and build a people-first culture that actually performs, this episode offers practical tools you can start using immediately.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Why holding brave space creates psychological safety on your team
- How listening to learn fosters curiosity, trust, and collaboration
- Why self-awareness helps you stay present and lead more effectively
- How bold humility strengthens leadership instead of weakening it
- Why recognizing and challenging your patterns leads to growth
- How using “yes, and…” builds on ideas instead of shutting them down
Get your free Practice Guide | Discover how to elevate your leadership and create a firm culture where people and projects flourish. The Connective Influence Model™ provides actionable practices designed to build trust, deepen collaboration, and ignite your team’s potential.
DESIGN INTERVENTION
Always find yourself in spaces with people who are a few steps ahead of you, in their business. These are the folks to learn from and leverage for inspiration. Ask questions, get feedback, try and be okay failing and then take what you’ve gleaned and make it your own. There is only one YOU after all.
About Shannon Hughes
Shannon is a facilitator and leadership coach who helps design leaders unlock the power of high-impact teams, so they stay, build together, and thrive. Through this work, she blends strategic mentorship with experiential teaching to foster people-first cultures and purposeful leadership with her clients. With 20+ years in marketing, HR, and leadership, Shannon champions belonging, creativity, and the practice of an improv mindset to transform how businesses lead and flourish.
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Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and provides general business advice for interior designers and design professionals. It is not intended as individual legal, accounting, or professional guidance. Kimberley Seldon and Business of Design® make no guarantees regarding accuracy and are not liable for how information is used. Strategies shared may not apply to every situation—listeners should seek qualified legal, financial, or professional advice before making business decisions. References and resources mentioned may change over time.
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