‘Credible’ presents a powerful argument for why expertise really matters, and how leaders who deeply understand their industry and organization make all the difference for its success and the happiness of people who work there. 

It is a response to the backlash against expertise that has swept through much of the world. Based on nearly two decades of research, Amanda Goodall vividly illustrates that what makes the difference in organizational performance is a boss with core business expertise and the credibility that comes from technical knowledge and industry know-how accrued over many years.

Organizations from banks to basketball teams need bosses with core expertise. Those who lead hospitals and healthcare systems, for example, should be physicians with deep clinical expertise, not financiers or people parachuted in from other industries. Those who run school systems and universities need to understand from experience the stress of balancing teaching, research, and student welfare.

In Credible, Goodall debunks the cult of managerialism (the notion that smart people can run anything) and provides an underappreciated model for career success: go deep into a business, work hard, and know your stuff.