Leader of Experts

Practical leadership tools for managing people who know more than you

A leadership development program for those responsible for experts, focused on building the insight and capability needed to lead technical teams in ways that strengthen influence, collaboration, and outcomes.

What is Leader of Experts

Leading subject matter experts is unlike leading any other group. Experts think differently, work differently, and are motivated differently — and generic leadership programs rarely address these realities.

Leader of Experts™ has been designed by the Expertship Institute specifically for managers of technical specialists, helping them understand the psychology of expertise, navigate common leadership challenges, and lift the performance, engagement, and strategic contribution of their expert teams.

As one of the highest-rated accredited facilitators in the Expertship Institute network, I deliver this program with a strong blend of practical tools, deep insight, and a genuine passion for helping experts — and their leaders — thrive.

Total Contact Time: ~10 hours over 8 weeks


Delivery: Virtual or face-to-face (preferred for workshops)


Minimum: 6 participants

Leader of Experts Structure

  • I will meet with the leaders to set goals, discuss their team context, and prepare for the workshop. This helps to ensure the 1-Day Workshop and the Coaching Sessions are aligned with their requirements.

  • Leaders learn the Expertship Model™, common expert leadership challenges, techniques for unlocking expert performance, and practical frameworks for real conversations.

    In addition, leaders learn from each other through shared experience, stories and advice.

  • The leader will receive two executive coaching sessions to further support their leadership development.

    The coaching encourages overcoming personal obstacles, builds confidence and embeds ongoing learning.

  • Leaders receive a workbook, the Expertship Growth Guide, and soft copies of templates they can use to support their own coaching of their team, improve performance, and enhance engagement.

OUTCOMES FOR LEADERS

Leaders emerge with:

  • Greater confidence in managing highly specialised individuals

  • Tools for constructive, meaningful development conversations

  • A clearer understanding of what experts need to perform and grow

  • Improved collaboration and trust with technical teams

  • Stronger alignment between leader expectations and expert behaviour

Why is leading experts different?

Experts bring extraordinary value, but they also present unique leadership challenges:

  • They often know more than their leader, which can create relational tension

  • Their work is complex and sometimes invisible or difficult to measure

  • They may feel misunderstood or undervalued

  • They can be highly autonomous and resistant to traditional management approaches

  • They may discount advice from leaders with less technical depth

  • They struggle to articulate what they need

  • Their performance expectations are often unclear

  • Many believe their job is simply to “be technically great,” not to operate strategically

Leader of Experts™ teaches leaders how to navigate these complexities with confidence — using approaches built specifically for expert-heavy teams.

OUTCOMES FOR EXPERTS

Although the program is for leaders, experts experience significant benefits through improved leadership:

  • Increased clarity and motivation

  • Better development and performance support

  • A leader who understands their strengths and challenges

  • Improved team cohesion and communication

  • Greater engagement and aspiration

  • Progress toward operating more strategically

PRICING

Investment varies depending on delivery format (virtual vs. face-to-face), cohort size, and organisational context.
Programs start from AUD $X per participant

Why work with me?

You benefit from a facilitator who:

  • Has 25+ years of experience working with experts across industries

  • Is one of the highest-rated coaches in the Expertship Institute network

  • Understands the psychology and identity of experts deeply

  • Brings a facilitation style that is engaging, challenging, and psychologically safe

  • Helps leaders translate the learning directly into real conversations and real results

  • Brings a strong sense of purpose about elevating expertise in organisations and society

I care deeply about helping leaders unlock the full potential of their expert teams, because experts are essential to solving our most complex challenges.

Develop leaders who can bring out the best in your experts.

If you want your leaders to unlock higher performance, aspiration, and strategic contribution from their expert teams, Leader of Experts™ is the ideal next step.