Experience and Expertise - Matter in the Hiring and Fractional World

Find My Catalyst Podcast

Mike Simmons is a leadership and operations expert who helps organizations drive growth through clarity and execution. He leads initiatives through Find My Catalyst, offering services in leadership, revenue, and operations. Tim Dyck brings deep experience in recruitment and people strategies. He is the founder of Best Culture Solutions, helping companies build great teams with purpose.

Together, Mike and Tim dive into the nuances of fractional leadership, sharing hard-won lessons, memorable metaphors, and actionable insights.

💬 Three Key Quotes

"Don’t mistake knowledge for experience. And don’t mistake experience for expertise."

"If you’re hiring a fractional leader, make sure they’ve run out of gas before—because they’ll know how to get you back on the road."

"Learning is great. But presenting yourself as an expert without experience can do more harm than good."

📌 50-Word Summary

Mike Simmons and Tim Dyck unpack the world of fractional work, using real-life analogies to explain the value of experience and the risk of surface-level knowledge. They share the difference between knowing, doing, and mastering—and how true expertise accelerates impact. A must-listen for leaders hiring with intention.

🔑 5 Key Takeaways 1. The Fuel Tank Metaphor for Expertise

• Experience is knowing how far your vehicle can go on empty.

• True experts have broken down before—and know how to recover fast.

• Awareness, experience, and expertise are not the same—and each plays a different role.

2. Beware of Shallow Expertise

• Surface-level learners can use the right words but may not deliver results.

• Using tools like ChatGPT doesn't replace real-world experience.

• Misrepresented expertise can harm organizations and delay progress.

3. Fractional Leadership is Not for Learners

• Fractional leaders must already know how to solve the problem you have.

• They're not there to “figure it out”; they’re there to execute.

• Expecting quick results means you need someone who’s already done the work.

4. Simplify to Accelerate Speed to Impact

• Complexity slows progress; simplify by removing what’s unnecessary.

• Clear next steps fuel momentum in leadership and operations.

• Fractional experts help reduce overwhelm and focus on what matters.

5. Align Role with Readiness

• Use readiness assessments before hiring fractional talent.

• Match the right expert to the right job—based on proven track record.

• Fractional success is rooted in fit, not just availability.

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