How to Influence as a Product Designer: 5 Approaches

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Before we begin, it is crucial to clarify who an influential product designer is; this specialist consistently makes big decisions for product strategy. Collaborating with design teams at Meta daily, I have noticed that influential designers share five behaviours:

1. Doing the hard work 
2. Being a simplifier
3. Making others successful 
4. Building trust 
5. Communicate more 

Let us elaborate on each. 

Do the hard work. 

An influential product designer does not merely point to what is wrong and immediately escalate the issue. That will lead to teams not responding with actions. Instead, I suggest trying this approach: 

1. Highlight the problem with context: for example, showing metrics (X% decline) or user feedback. You may also connect the issue with business goals or desirable outcomes (“This leads to a drop-off in Q3 revenue targets”). 
2. Step back to analyse: identify root causes, research other products’ experiences with the same problem, and consider technical limitations. 
3. Understand the potential: you need to analyse whether the issue is significant. For this, you need to determine the consequences the problem will lead to in the long run and assess risks. 
4. Come with proposals: present 2-3 ideas, including information about effort estimates and resource requirements. 

An influential product designer would provide concrete actions: “According to user testing results, 7 out of 10 users cannot find the save button. I have designed two alternative layouts that address the issue”. 

Be a simplifier 

Companies need product designers who simplify complex ideas and make them clear to everyone. To master the skill,

1. Choose problems others care about.
2. Break down the challenge into core components: start with the big picture and then analyse it more thoroughly. 
3. Make the issues and the solutions understandable: provide explanations and write clear explanations.

Using this approach, an influential product designer will make teams listen.

Make others successful. 

Set your mind to amplifying others and answering the questions: What can I do to be helpful to them? How can you support your growth? For instance, you may mentor junior product designers.

Do not focus only on your goals – a product designer will not influence people. Instead, support others. 

Build trust. 

Building trust with colleagues or leaders in the new team is necessary before any decision-making. To accelerate trust as an influential product designer, schedule 1:1 calls with teams and stakeholders to understand their challenges. This approach will help to make an impact. 

Communicate more. 

Overcommunication does not mean being annoying. In fact, it helps you understand the issue and be understood by others. 

Do not be afraid to ask open-ended questions and be curious: What marks the feature’s success? What constraints should I be aware of when designing this feature? 

Do not hesitate to contact people, but ensure you explain things clearly. Share your updates and explorations, not only finished work. 

I hope it was helpful! What tips helped you influence? Please, share them in the comments. Let us connect if you want to learn more about what I have learned about design, growth, and my career 🙂