You Don’t Need to Be the Expert

EP04: You Don’t Need to Be the Expert

Leadership in 5 | Earned Authority

Founders often carry a quiet pressure to have all the answers. But leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room—it’s about bringing out the best in the room.

In this episode, James explores how the pressure to “know everything” stems from a desperation mindset: the belief that everything rests on your shoulders alone. You’ll learn how to shift from control to clarity—and why listening may be the most powerful leadership move you make.

In this episode:

• Why tying your value to expertise becomes a bottleneck
• How desperation drives control-based leadership
• The difference between guiding and dominating the room
• A simple question to help you shift from expert to leader

Ask yourself:

Is this a moment where I need to lead… or listen?