In UX design, your ability to stay relevant hinges on evolving your skills. Whether it’s mastering the latest design software, keeping up with emerging design trends, or sharpening your understanding of user psychology, growth fuels influence.

Start by identifying key skills valued in your organization. Does your team prioritize data-driven decisions? Focus on improving your ability to gather insights from user feedback and metrics. Is empathy a core value? Delve into user research to design experiences that resonate deeply with your audience.

Mentorship is another avenue to accelerate growth. Find a mentor within your company, and learn from their journey. Their experience can provide you with a roadmap of non-negotiable skills in your team’s culture.

Lastly, look beyond design. Leadership isn’t just about technical skills; it’s about understanding people. Learn about human behavior, motivation, and team dynamics.

These soft skills will elevate your influence and help you design with a greater understanding of users and colleagues alike.

While it’s tempting to focus on improving your weaknesses, leadership is often about maximizing your strengths. What do you do best as a designer? Is it crafting compelling narratives through visuals? Can it empathize deeply with users and transform their feedback into actionable insights?

Ask yourself: What tasks make you feel energized and accomplished? When have your peers or managers praised your work? Understanding your strengths and putting them front and center can differentiate you as a leader.

For example, if you excel at creating intuitive user flows, find opportunities to lead projects or initiatives where this skill can shine. Maybe you enjoy collaborating with product teams to align design with business goals — lean into this to become a bridge between departments.

The more consistently you leverage your strengths, the more your colleagues and superiors will view you as a go-to resource. When it’s time to pitch new ideas or take on higher responsibilities, your track record of delivering value will speak volumes.

Don’t be afraid to admit when you’ve made a mistake or when you’re unsure about something. Being open about your challenges fosters trust and creates space for others to connect on a human level.

In practice, this could mean sharing insights into your design process during team reviews or opening up about lessons learned from a failed project.

Authenticity and vulnerability allow others to relate to you, breaking down barriers and amplifying your influence.

Empathy, one of the core pillars of UX design, also plays a critical role in leadership. When collaborating with your team, remember that everyone faces challenges, many of which you may not see. Practicing empathy in your interactions — whether with users or colleagues — will foster stronger, more collaborative relationships, driving both your personal growth and your team’s success.

Leadership in UX is not about waiting for a promotion. It’s about taking initiative, continuously growing, leveraging your strengths, and building meaningful connections.

Whether you’re designing interfaces or leading collaborative efforts, your influence grows from the value you bring to the table and the impact you create.