By Maria Day, Managing Director; IID Professions

At the beginning of this year, the IID Board of Directors set a vision for the next few years: Voice. Authority. Impact.

I have given a lot of thought lately to what that actually means, not only for the IID, but for women  in businesses, our lives and the built environment.

Why do we do what we do? And how does that “why” become a voice, develop into authority and ultimately create impact?

Leadership can sometimes feel lonely.

There is an expectation that leaders should have the answers, know the direction and confidently lead the way.

But I believe there is enormous value in connecting through our stories, experiences and journeys.

When those are shared, leadership becomes less about the individual and more about what we can learn from one another.

That in itself creates Voice, Authority and Impact.

Authority is not dominance or arrogance. It is confidence in knowing who you are, understanding the value of your expertise and recognising the influence you have.

Designers have an extraordinary ability to influence more than the physical space in front of them. Through an ontological approach to design, a space can influence behaviour, relationships and ultimately culture. In many ways, you are not simply designing around an existing culture, the environments you create can help reshape it.

Perhaps leadership works in much the same way.

Leadership grounded in confidence and empathy can inspire confidence in others. And when those people begin to lead too, the result is a ripple effect where leadership is no longer held by one person but shared collectively.

There is something I find incredibly powerful in the idea that collective genius outweighs the genius of an individual.

Imagine, then, the impact that can be created through a profession with a united voice, confident leadership and a mindset grounded in empathy.

Interior design already influences how people live, learn, work, shop and heal. The spaces designers create can affect wellbeing, behaviour, connection and the way people experience everyday life.

But perhaps If you have the ability to create extraordinary environments for others, what would happen if that same thinking was applied to the environments within your own businesses? Spaces and cultures where people feel heard, where they can grow, contribute, question, learn and eventually lead themselves.

For me, particularly during Women’s Month, leadership is not simply about one person having a louder voice. It is about creating the confidence and space for more voices to emerge.

Because when individual voices become a collective voice, Voice becomes Authority, Authority creates Impact  and that impact can reach far beyond any one of us