Leader vs Expert

Often we hear of career choices of technical or managerial roles.

Which one should you choose?

I would say be a "Leader".

What leaders do?

Leaders find and help in achieving a meaningful purpose.

Is it necessary for leader to be expert of area before he can start leading in that area?

Not necessarily. What drives leaders is purpose. Leaders work with other leaders to get the necessary information or expertise. Wherever there is gap in information or expertise, leaders will go out and chase it themselves. Even when they chase expertise, what matters and drives them is purpose and not mere building expertise.

Can an expert in area become a leader naturally?

He can, if one wishes for but its not natural. It can happen only when he starts focusing on the broader purpose to be achieved and not merely on expertise in a area of interest. He would need to take interest in many more areas beyond what interested him intrinsically to succeed as a leader.

Who is more important - Expert or Leader?

It takes a combo to succeed but its leader who scores over the expert. A leader with the strong drive towards purpose can become expert himself, if he sees the need. Leaders connect the expertise of an expert to purpose. Without that mere expertise may not be of much use.

Just building expertise in popular area might seem like low risk but in long run it is high risk. Most of the types of expertise becomes commodity eventually. Work on leading to purpose, not merely focusing on building expertise. Even if it means just leading yourself to a purpose.

Be a Leader not mere expert !