Can You Be a Great Leader Without Technical Expertise?
Can You Be a Great Leader Without Technical Expertise?







	

			
		

	


		

Leadership is not a transferable skill.
		
	

		



	November 15, 2017


	

			




	
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		A lot of people assume that the skills you need to be a leader are more or less transferable. If you can inspire and motivate people in one arena, you should be able to apply those skills to do the same in another venue. But skills like the ability to motivate self and others, effective oral and written communication, and critical thinking are not enough. You also need domain expertise. Effective communication differs from one domain to another. Doctors talking to patients must communicate information differently than politicians reacting to a natural disaster or a CEO responding to a labor dispute. This way of thinking about leadership has two important implications. First, when we teach people about leadership, we need to be more explicit that domain expertise matters. Second, when we train people to take on leadership roles, we need to give them practice solving domain-specific problems so that they can prepare to integrate information in the arena in which they are being asked to lead.

	

					
						
	
	
		
			
				
						
	
	

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								There is a broad assumption in society and in education that the skills you need to be a leader are more or less transferable. If you can inspire and motivate people in one arena, you should be able to apply those skills to do the same in another venue.
						

					
				


		

	




				