How do we shift from expert to leader?
82% of new managers step into leadership roles without any formal leadership training. That stat might not surprise you, but it should concern you. Because as today’s guest points out, a line manager has more influence on someone’s mental health than their doctor, therapist, or even their partner.
In this episode of Work is Weird Now, we talk with Naomi Regan - certified leadership coach, people & culture strategist, and co-founder of CAPE People Development - about one of the most under-discussed but critical transitions at work: moving from being an expert to being a leader.
Why the Expert-to-Leader Shift Is So Hard
Being promoted because you’re good at the detail doesn’t mean you’ll succeed as a leader. In fact, it often requires the opposite skillset and mindset: letting go of having all the answers and creating the conditions for others to succeed. Naomi explains why this “identity shift” is the toughest—and most overlooked—part of leadership.
Conversations Are the Work of Leadership
Forget endless frameworks. Leadership shows up in day-to-day conversations. Naomi introduces her “hot potato” test:
Are you keeping responsibility with your team?
Or are you grabbing it back every time because it feels easier in the moment?
Learning to have clearer, more human conversations is the fastest way to build trust, ownership, and performance.
What Organisations Need to Do Differently
Stop assuming high performers will make good leaders
Redefine success beyond “the only way up is management”
Focus on behaviours (not just knowledge) when developing people
Talk openly about struggle—leadership is learned through discomfort, not instant mastery
Leadership in the Age of AI
As AI takes on more of the “doing,” human-to-human leadership skills become even more valuable. Naomi argues that what will set great leaders apart in the future is our ability to connect, listen, and create meaning.
Beyond the Small Talk
Naomi is currently writing her new book, Beyond the Small Talk, which explores the five conversations that make work work. It’s due out next year—watch this space.
Listen Now
🎧 Tune in to hear practical insights on how to let go of being the expert, embrace your leadership role, and have the conversations that truly matter.
