Coaching Engineers and Technology Professionals

 


Leading as an expert

An expert is often required to lead across business units and disciplines. Although frequently operating in a project context, it is not unusual for an expert to serve as individual contributor with no direct reports.

Thus, an expert's greatest influence on the organization is through persuasiveness of ideas rather than position in the hierarchy.
 
 
 

Expertise is not enough

The skills of indirect or cross-functional leadership go beyond technical expertise and include:
  • Establishing an authoritative presence while demonstrating a willingness to collaborate
  • Presenting technical arguments to non-technical audiences
  • Balancing political with technical demands of the job
  • Viewing the world from the shoes of corporate management
  • Knowing when to "step back and just let it happen"