Featured on this episode:

• Join the waitlist for The Designers Edge here.
• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to earn contractor trust without faking confidence
• The real reason site teams overlook designers (and how to fix it)
• Simple ways to define your authority—no scripts required

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There’s a gap in this industry that no one really talks about.

Most designers were trained to manage clients, not construction.
So when you step onto a jobsite, especially as a woman, things shift. The pace is different. The language is direct. Hierarchy matters in a way it usually doesn’t over fabric samples and floor plans.

And even experienced designers can find themselves second-guessing what they’re allowed to own.

So if you’ve ever walked out of a site meeting thinking,
“I should’ve spoken up,”
or
“My opinion never even made it onto the table.”
You’re not imagining it. And you’re definitely not alone.

This isn’t about confidence.
It’s about clarity and positioning.

And if you want to run smarter projects, protect your profit, and still enjoy what’s left of your sanity, then you have to stop waiting to “feel ready” to lead.
You need to decide where you stand, and let the team adjust around that.

Here’s how you do it.

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Let’s start with what most designers get wrong

When most designers feel out of place in construction, they try to compensate by being easy. Flexible. Accommodating.
“Whatever works best.” “Just let me know what you need.”
We’ve all said it.

But that instinct doesn’t come from humility; it comes from uncertainty.
Uncertainty about your role. Uncertainty about what you’re allowed to own.
And by the way, contractors can smell that from a mile away.

When you’re not clear about what you own on the project, nobody else is either.
And that’s when things start falling through the cracks.
Decisions slow down. Lines of responsibility blur.
Suddenly, you’re stepping in to fix something that could’ve been handled two weeks ago, if anyone had actually known what you were running.

It’s not sustainable. And it’s not leadership.

Confusion isn’t neutral; it costs you

If you’ve ever thought,
“I’ll speak up more when I know more,”
or
“I just need a few more projects to feel confident on site.”
I get it. I’ve been there.
But here’s what the other side of experience teaches you:

Waiting for confidence delays clarity.
And when clarity is missing, three things start to erode:

1. Decisions – They happen without you or around you.
2. Fees – Your value looks optional, and optional work is easy to cut.
3. Energy – Second-guessing your role all day burns you out faster than the actual work ever will.

So if you’re feeling drained, it’s not because you can’t lead.
It’s because you’re spending all your mental energy playing defense, not offense.

The reality: Contractors don’t care if your cushions are on trend

Let’s demystify this part.
Contractors, and honestly, most architects, aren’t clocking your style choices.
They assume you’re talented. That’s why you’re there.

What they actually care about?
Did you make their job easier, or harder?

Did you keep the process steady, or did you scramble them with late changes?
Did you guide the client, or let them spiral?
Were you decisive, or did they have to manage around you?

Authority on the jobsite looks like this:
You make things easier for the team.
You protect the vision, protect the process, and handle problems early.

That’s when they want you back.

You don’t have to be loud to have authority, you just have to be clear

Most designers looking for “the right script” are focused on the wrong thing.
A script can’t give you clarity.
You need to know, down to the bullet points, what decisions you make, what you don’t, and where you fit.

So when you’re speaking to contractors, it sounds like:
“This is what I’ll be managing.”
“These are the selections you’ll have by Friday.”
“If a client question comes up about X, send it to me directly.”

You don’t have to sell anyone on your authority.
You define your scope, and then act from it.

And if you’re early in your construction journey, that doesn’t disqualify you from leading.
Pretending you know everything does.
Being honest about what you own, and learning the rest? That earns trust fast.

If collaboration is the cornerstone, clarity is the foundation

Your role on a project isn’t just to add to it.
You’re there to protect it from poor decisions, timeline chaos, and fee erosion.
Not by controlling everything, but by understanding consequences and communicating them clearly.

When you do that, you’re not “one more person to manage.”
You become the person the team can count on.
And that changes everything.

P.S. If you’re ready to stop second-guessing your construction role, and want real steps, support, and strategy for 2026, the waitlist for my next program is open. Not a commitment. Just a heads up when enrollment launches again. 

Like this Episode?

Be sure to check out Episode #241: What Do Interior Designers Really Do on Construction Projects? How to Define Your Role with Confidence

Be sure to check out Episode #235: Who’s in Charge Here? (Hint: It Should Be You)

Be sure to check out Episode #230: The Kind of Collaborator You Don’t Forget