Approach 'expert' label with caution

Are you an expert in your field? If so, are you claiming that status?

On the one hand, not many people would want to puff up and call themselves experts, only to face the embarrassment later of learning they were rather average.

And yet ... don't you sometimes long to take the credit that's due for your extraordinary knowledge in a subject? Even if that subject is as mundane as a government process or in-house production protocols, if you are the one in your company who knows this thing best, you are at least the local expert on the subject matter.

But does anyone else know that?

If not, and you decide you do want some credit, you might be challenged by trying to take your due without totally unraveling the camaraderie on your team. One misstep and you can almost hear the sassy comment from so-and-so in the lunchroom: "And who does she think she is?"

Ah, the longing to fit in. The problem is that an expert - like any leader - doesn't fit in. By definition, you are a little above the rest, at least when it comes to your area of special knowledge. So if you are holding back on claiming expertise out of personal discomfort with the label or fear of not being accepted later, you will have to decide if taking credit for your hard work is important enough to risk upsetting the apple cart.

While you're at it, ask yourself if not taking credit in favor of keeping the status quo is a worthy bargain.

I personally dealt with the question of claiming expertise - and not without discomfort. In the late 1990s, an employee who was doing our public relations work called me an expert in a press release promoting a workshop. "I don't think I can call myself an expert," I told her. Her answer has stuck with me: "If you're not an expert, who is?"

At that point I had written a half-dozen small books on my topic, given hundreds of presentations, served on local committees, co-founded a special interest group, started a training institute for others in the profession, initiated this column and helped thousands of job-seekers through my company.

As we talked further, it became clear that she wasn't measuring me against my colleagues and finding them wanting. She was looking at my body of work on its own merits and asking herself if I knew enough about this field to be called an expert. Using this view, there is room for many experts in a field, as a designation for people who are distinguishing themselves in their subject areas.

I understood all this, but it took awhile before I could claim some comfort with the title itself.

The term "expert" is powerful and implies more than just advanced knowledge. It places the bearer on a different plane and raises expectations about his or her work. I believe it also comes with a responsibility to contribute to the field and to grow professionally.

It's not something to take lightly.

And yet, not claiming credit for your expertise is not a good option. Why work so hard if you're not going to be known for it? It's possible that you're waiting for permission. If you earn a Ph.D. in your subject and write a groundbreaking dissertation, for example, you might feel justified in calling yourself an expert.

Or, more likely, you'll be so aware of all that you don't know that you won't be able to utter the words at all.

In a future column, I'll go over ways to raise your profile and become better known for your expertise. In the meantime, ask yourself: Am I an expert? Do I want to be?

- Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com or at 1071 W. Seventh St., St. Paul, MN 55102.

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