Pretty much every company I’ve been in or know of values a vertical trajectory instead of a horizontal one for its employees i.e becoming a manager nearly always means a faster salary progression than becoming an expert in one or multiple fields.
Why is expertise valued less?
What does this mean?
The structure and values of the underlying society revolve around individuals amassing power and wealth for their own benefit rather than any kind of collective good. Often the boss, the owner, the one in charge leans on their wealth and power. They were born with resources or hoarded them and feel that the most valuable contribution anyone could make is risking their own wealth (investing). As such, they themselves deserve most of the control of the organization (company) and deserve to be rewarded with most of the fruits of their worker’s labor. They control the means of production.
If you have good social skills and exude confidence - this comforts the boss. Now the boss likes you and you get promoted and more money. If you are capable of doing great work but don’t know how to kiss the boss’s ass or don’t make the boss believe you know what you are doing - you aren’t as obviously valuable to the boss because the boss doesn’t understand all that technical stuff. Toss in some Dunning-Kruger for good measure too.
Get rid of the boss and decide how to do things democratically among your peers? Now you’ve seized the means of production.
You still need leadership in any system.
Eve your argument “seize the means of production” only happens with leadership.
The OP said:
I simply explained what someone might have meant regarding seizing the means of production being a potential solution to expertise being valued less than being manager.
I didn’t say we don’t need leaders. An owner or a manager may be in charge but that doesn’t make them a leader.