176: Interior Design Team Building for Sustainable Growth

Building a team is one of the most powerful and often misunderstood growth strategies for interior designers. In this episode, Melissa unpacks the real reasons hiring feels overwhelming—and how structure, not just staffing, is the key to sustainable success. Whether hiring a first intern or building a high-functioning team, getting clear on roles, expectations, and systems can be the difference between burnout and freedom.

This episode dives deep into the foundational shifts required to move from reactive to strategic hiring. Discover why the first hire shouldn't be another designer, how to avoid common team-building mistakes, and what systems must be in place before anyone joins your firm. With real client examples, actionable insights, and a reframe on leadership, this is your roadmap to building a team that supports growth—not one that drains it.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• (01:47) Why most designers hire too late—and what to do instead
• (03:17) The myth that more people fix problems (spoiler: they don't if your systems are broken)
• (04:31) The 3 key questions to ask before making a hire
• (06:01) The first roles that create relief—and why it's not always another designer
• (08:29) Client success stories: small teams, big results
• (12:09) Why systems must come before hiring—and the SOPs every design firm needs
• (18:29) How to stop performance issues by improving structure, not blaming people

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