The Visible Leader · 2025-05-01 · 30 min
In this episode of The Visible Leader, I talk to Ed Fidoe - co-founder of the London Interdisciplinary School - about a concept that could radically shift how leaders operate: interactional expertise. What do you do when your team knows more than you do? How do you lead across functions where you don't have the depth of knowledge? And how can you avoid falling into the trap of blind trust or dangerous overconfidence? Ed shares brilliant insights from his leadership journey, from running a university to launching theatre productions, and explains why not knowing doesn't have to undermine your leadership - if you know how to ask the right questions, build context, and read between the lines. We also talk about Steve Jobs, Dunbar's Number, and what good strategy actually looks like. Key Takeaways: * Interactional expertise is the ability to understand and talk fluently about topics you're not an expert in - vital for cross-functional leadership. * Leaders "acting out" might look like not asking questions or pretending to understand, driven by a fear of looking silly. * Build your confidence by reading beyond your domain - whether it's marketing, HR, or science.
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