Skip to content
The expert as leader

People skilled in specialist technical or professional areas are often wary of taking on leadership roles. Those technical experts that do take the plunge often find a lack of development opportunities limits their success.

Looking beyond the stereotypes, this practical research report builds a fuller, evidence based understanding of an expert as leader. Whether you are a technical expert in a leadership role or an HR professional responsible for developing people strategies for experts within your organisation, it will help you to understand:

  • Do experts need to be led by experts?
  • What motivates experts to become leaders and what stops them?
  • What are the common characteristics of technical experts and the impact of these on their leadership style?
  • How do excellent expert leaders develop?
  • What learning and development strategies are effective in developing experts as leaders?

The report is based upon research we conducted in seven organisations that have a strongly scientific or technical base to their core functions. We draw insights and lessons from these successful organisations, which include ARM (semiconductor design and manufacture), BAM (construction), Cmed (clinical research), RBS Insurance and Syngenta (agricultural research).

More Insights

Insights – Construction Sector

Construction Sector Insights Roffey Park 2025 is an essential examination of the UK construction sector in 2025, focusing on the people and leadership aspects required to navigate a period of significant change. In an environment driven by the UK government’s £725 billion 10-year strategy aimed at economic growth, regional rebalancing, and the net-zero transition ,…

Read more >
Research

Insights – Housing Sector

Housing Sector Insights Roffey Park 2025: Building a Resilient Future is an essential examination of the UK housing and construction sector at a critical juncture in 2025. In an environment driven by the Labour government’s commitment of over £39 billion to social and affordable housing and the national target of 1.5 million new homes by…

Read more >
Research

Research Paper – Developing Collective Leadership to Support Collaboration

Developing Collective Leadership to Support Collaboration: A Case Study in Clinical Education in UK Healthcare, is an insightful examination of how a collective leadership approach can break down institutional silos and improve interprofessional collaboration in healthcare. In an era where healthcare teams are under pressure to deliver more services with tighter budgets, this white paper…

Read more >
Research

Research Paper – Cultural Integration of AI in HR

Explore Roffey Park Institute’s latest white paper, Cultural Integration of AI in HR: A Human-Centred Approach, an insightful examination of how the success of AI in HR depends less on technology itself and more on the culture that surrounds it. In an era where AI is reshaping recruitment, learning and development, and employee engagement, this…

Read more >
Research
Back To Top