Relearning the basics of leadership
Many designers said they had to go back to the fundamentals – not of fashion, but of psychology, communication, and behaviour in the workplace. Several mentioned Work Life, a podcast by organisational psychologist Adam Grant. Despite his occasionally cheesy tone, Grant’s episodes offer thoughtful, research-backed insights into how to work more humanely – whether you’re navigating office politics or figuring out how to give feedback. His book Think Again was also cited as a helpful tool for rethinking habits, especially when transitioning into a leadership role.
Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead, Simon Sinek’s Leaders Eat Last, and Seth Godin’s Tribes were also named as go-to reads for reframing what leadership means – particularly around vulnerability, shared purpose, and team trust.
Learning through role play and real talk
Sometimes the best lessons come not from high theory, but from roleplay videos. Claire Benjamin’s Instagram (@missclairebenjamin) came up repeatedly – for her practical, acted-out scenarios of common workplace communication problems. Think: how to respond when someone undermines you in a meeting, or how to manage feedback without causing conflict. Though her tone can lean slightly corporate, her advice is widely applicable, especially for younger managers still finding their style.
Creativity, confidence, and the inner critic
Not all advice was directly about management. For many designers, learning to lead meant first reckoning with their own impostor syndrome. Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own was cited as a lifelong source of inspiration – a reminder that creative legitimacy isn’t something granted from above, but something that must be claimed.
Similarly, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield was mentioned as a motivational tool for pushing through internal resistance – helpful both in the studio and in the boardroom.
Others turned to podcasts like Great Women Artists by Katy Hessel or Cherchez la Femme (in French), hosted by Florence from L’Impératrice. While these aren’t management resources per se, they offer solidarity; reminders that self-doubt and gatekeeping affect even the most accomplished women in creative fields.
Towards a Kinder, Clearer Management Style
Becoming a better manager also meant developing new habits: clarity, honesty, and consistency. Radical Candor by Kim Scott was cited as essential reading for those trying to balance empathy with accountability. Let Them Theory (popularised by Mel Robbins) was also mentioned as a liberating concept: a reminder to stop overcontrolling and start trusting others, and oneself.
There’s no single manual for becoming a great creative leader, especially in an industry that rarely models good management from the top down. But what these designers show is that leadership is learned, not inherited. With curiosity, practice, and the right guidance, toxic cycles can be broken – and replaced with something far more sustaining. Last but not least… find a good coach!
