Tagged with: expert • Network • niche • personal branding • personal development • self promotion
Everyone is an expert in something.
This doesn’t always mean that you have 20 years of experience. This doesn’t mean you know everything about anything.
Being “an expert” is essential for successful working in global, virtual and “usual” teams. So, it’s great that everyone is an expert… at least in something.
Yes, this is going to be some practical advice… (just to reassure you, it makes sense to read on).
You just have to pick a niche and become an expert in it. Start with a very small niche as it is easier to become an expert in a small niche.
Living in a developing country and working within an offshore industry?
Learn how your culture is different from other countries, learn the ins and outs of your local business eco-system. Learn to tell the story of your own region. How can your region contribute to software development, how does it work in your neighborhood? People that are outsourcing labor are in desperate need for guidance on how to make the outsourced business work locally.
What makes you “you”? Why are you more suited for the job then the rest of the crowd?
Remember… it is something you already posses … the smallest niche being “expert in myself”.
In a community of project people, in an organization, in a project, in your neighborhood… what do you bring to the table to make a difference?
The answer to that question, how big or how small you may think it is, is your expertise.
Even if you are not considering yourself a “real” expert. That’s because there are no real experts, as Havi Brooks ponders:
“That’s because — in some sense — there’s no such thing as, you know, the ultimate expertise where you know everything about whatever it is you’re an expert in.
A real expert is someone who knows how little she actually knows and is throwing herself into learning more.
No matter where you are in your field and no matter how much you know about a topic, there’s pretty much always going to be someone (or — more likely — thousands of someones) who knows more about it than you do.”
But if you are perceived as an expert, people are going to ask you things. It is clear for people what your “thing” is, what it is you bring to the project or organization.
People are asking me about Software Project Management and People, no one asks me about taxes.
You get my point.
Do yourself a favor and start answering this question, NOW.
It will not be the final answer, it will change over time. But make a start.
The way you look at expertise brings me a vision of a typical trusted advisor in the company – one of those experienced guys who has been developing the product while it was written in ancient C and went through three technology changes and is the only person who actually remembers why most of wicked tricks you can find along the source code were implemented.
Yes, that’s about expertise, but that’s about experience in the first place. The longer you are the part of the project the more you know about it – you want it or not. No matter if you learn consciously or not, you become a kind of expert. People start asking you questions and, surprise, surprise, you know answers.
Sure you can help build your expertise consciously learning new things, but to be honest – how many times people would go ask a newbie about an issue even if they were told she’s a guru in that area? As far as she don’t show some of her knowledge in the field several times (looking for a chance herself) she won’t be considered as a real expert.
It’s how people work, isn’t it?
Hi Pawel, yes yes yes! You are quite right. Thanks for the comment. I think my main point is probably more “In a community of project people … what do you bring to the table to make a difference?”
If you are part of a project, and people ask you why you are on it? What is the answer? It shouldn’t be “Because I am available”. This is something you can cultivate by “consciously learning new things”. And sure, by just saying you are “The Best Of The Best” you have no chance of being considered a real expert.
As you so rightfully put it : “As far as she don’t show some of her knowledge in the field several times…” Experience does this. A proven track record does this for you, even if you aren’t conscious about this. But you can short cut this by making it a conscious process. Not a pushy, bragging process. But making a serious effort to “market” your expertise.
But first and foremost, you must know yourself what it is you bring to the table. Why should people take you? What makes you different?
Sounds easy, but it isn’t..
Probably you are not even aware of the expertise that you possess.
Chances are you have taken your expertise for granted. Something that is so common to you, that you don’t even recognize it as a expertise. It’s a fun process finding out people are starting to fall back on you for answers in this specific area. And you start to wonder. “What makes me the authority on that ??”
Thats probably where your hidden expertise lies. Take it up, expand it.
Just my take on it…
Hi Joao, thanks for joining the conversation. Yes, I daily wonder “What makes me the authority on that ??”
So, you have a good point there.
What I want to point out though, is that everybody can define themselves in a way that makes them unique. If you can spin that in a way it is related to projects, it’s your “expertise”… the smaller you define your niche, the easier it is to become an expert.
This knowledge works two ways: it helps you to make the expert building process more conscious and it helps you to tell “your story” more easily.
I decided i will spend a little more postings on it
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I agree with the principle of being an expert even if its in a small niche. The problem however which is faced by major companies is that there are many experts out there in the internal company but there are limited ways to find them and the process can become time consuming. Then once you find them they often dont have the time to mentor or coach from their experience. To me gaining the knowldge iand becoming an expert is not the problem, ist being able to share it effectively and effeciently.
Hi Rogan, is this something you think technology can help out? or is it mostly that companies should provide people with time to spend on knowledge sharing?