If you want to stand out from the crowd or competition at work, then you need to be seen as an expert in your field. This takes action on your part and not just walking around telling people that you’re an expert.
Everyone has the potential to be an expert at what they do. Here are a few simple steps that you’ll need to follow first to be recognized as an expert.
Educate Yourself
First and foremost, make sure that you’re educated on what you’re doing. If you’re working in the maintenance department of a company and you want to be seen as the go-to person on anything related to maintenance, then you need to know what you’re talking about.
• Take evening courses at a local college to help further your education and keep you up to date on the latest knowledge and technology.
• Read more. It doesn’t matter what you do as a profession, you need to take advantage of the vast knowledge in the library.
By expanding your knowledge you’ll also build your confidence. Tell me one person that was ever seen as an expert that didn’t believe in themselves and what they were doing. Can you name one? Not likely! With knowledge comes confidence.
Demonstrate Your Knowledge
It’s one thing to talk about what you know, but it’s something else entirely to actually do it.
Experts don’t walk around and brag about what they can do, they take action. If you encounter a difficult problem or situation, you’ll be able to take charge and find a solution.
• Be proactive. If a problem arises, take action right away to find a solution. If you don’t know the answer yourself, search out someone who does. Even experts need to learn new things and they aren’t afraid to admit it to others.
Learn To Be a Great Communicator
People have to understand what you can do and why you’re the best one to do it. This means that you have to understand and foresee the questions and concerns of others, then prepare and articulate the answers and solutions to them.
• Great communicators don’t just boss others around. Use your communications skills to teach and empower your coworkers.
Always Act With Integrity
Don’t take credit for things you haven’t done and don’t take shortcuts. Skipping out on doing something the right way doesn’t make you an expert, however, this doesn’t mean that you have to do everything yourself.
There will always be things we’re not so good at. In those circumstances, you have to learn how to delegate those responsibilities to others who have the skills required to get the job done. Part of being a good expert is seeing the strengths and weaknesses of others and how their talents can be put to good use.
• Give others credit for a job well done. Wise leaders and the most incredible of experts don’t do everything themselves. They have a talented team around them who have the skills they themselves lack.
By following these simple steps you’ll become the person with the answers. These are the experts who become irreplaceable and well respected because they take action.
