David Robson is an award-winning science writer and author of The Intelligence Trap, The Expectation Effect, and The Laws of Connection. His work has appeared in the BBC, New Scientist, and The Guardian, and has been translated into more than 15 languages.
David explores why intelligence and expertise don’t always protect leaders from bad judgment. He explains how the “curse of expertise” can create overconfidence, why good leaders actively look for evidence that challenges their assumptions, and why leadership requires skills beyond professional expertise.
He also examines how expectations shape performance, how leaders can unintentionally undermine others, and why warmth, competence, and vulnerability are essential to trust and influence. Throughout the conversation, David offers practical ways to question assumptions, strengthen relationships, and make better decisions.
Find episode 527 on The Leadership Podcast, on YouTube @theleadershippodcast, or wherever you get your podcasts!
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Key Moments
[03:16] Why David’s three books are connected by questioning assumptions
[07:19] The curse of expertise and when experience works against you
[10:01] Why becoming a leader requires learning a new skill set
[11:32] How the nocebo effect can influence workplace stress
[13:02] How leaders can unintentionally undermine their people’s confidence
[15:57] Why faint praise can hold people back
[18:46] Why leaders need both warmth and competence
[21:11] Why vulnerability can increase trust and loyalty
[27:32] Why the best persuaders ask questions instead of assuming
[28:03] Why communication is more ambiguous than we think
[32:29] Three practices from David’s books for becoming a more effective leader
[38:34] Why curiosity can reduce polarization and open difficult conversations
[40:04] Why self-compassion can make us more effective
The Leadership Podcast is sponsored by W.S. Darley & Company.
Founded in 1908, Darley remains a family owned and operated business, providing the highest quality equipment solutions to our country’s warfighters and firefighters.
Learn more at darley.com and darleydefense.com
Memorable Quotes
"Listen to your intuitions. But then interrogate that as if it's just another piece of data." Share on X "When you've reached such a high level of expertise, you can actually become far too overconfident in your judgment." Share on X "Becoming a leader requires learning a completely different skill set.” Share on X "Stress is debilitating or stress is energizing. You get to choose your mindset." Share on X "Showing vulnerability is actually a great way of demonstrating warmth and competence." Share on X "The beautiful mess effect: when leaders admit to mistakes, followers' loyalty actually increases." Share on X "We overestimate how clear our message is. You have to check that you're both singing from the same songbook." Share on X "Express genuine curiosity explicitly. It's incredibly disarming and reduces polarization." Share on X "Being self-critical is counterproductive. It clouds your thinking and damages your health." Share on XExplore the full archive at www.theleadershippodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts!
These are the books mentioned in our discussion with David Robson
Resources Mentioned
- The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com
- Sponsored by | www.darley.com
- Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com
- Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com
- Website | www.davidrobson.me
- 60-Second Psychology | davidarobson.substack.com
- LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/david-robson-5761791b
- X | @d_a_robson
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