How to Become an Expert

What qualifies someone to be called expert? There is not a specific designation for every form of expertise. So how do you know if you’ve reached expert status? You have probably heard that it takes 10,000 hours of practice at something to become an expert. But is that enough? Remember these tips to help you become an expert in your field.  

Study and Apply

Commit to your field and then study to become an expert. Put in your 10,000 hours but don’t limit your time to theorizing, discussing and reading. Apply what you study. If you don’t practice what you learn, how can you become an expert? You can’t. Napoleon Hill shared in Think and Grow Rich that is in the application of specialized knowledge where value is created. And don’t wait until you are ready. The problem with waiting until you are “ready” or have everything “good enough” to take action or apply knowledge, is that the ideal situation never materializes. Sure, you may fail from time to time. This will give you even more information and data about what works and what does not work. This will further enhance your expertise.

Create Content to Become an Expert

Creating and publishing content is a great way to establish expertise. You are sharing your knowledge so others can benefit from it. Many people choose to do this in book format. If you aren’t ready to ink a book just yet, social media is waiting for you. You have access to as wide an audience as you can build via professional and social platforms. Be clear on who your content will be relevant to and focus on building an audience comprising those people. If your field of expertise is specific to a certain professional or trade industry, your strategy for bringing people into your network needs to focus around those individuals. And consistency is key. Releasing an article or a few posts here and there will not get you the credibility you want to become an expert. Consistent creation and release of content will best support you to become an expert in your field.

Get Validation

Find others in your field that are already considered experts and connect with them. Being an expert is not a formal designation…it is a perception. When you associate yourself with people who are already perceived to be experts, it creates implied validation. Then go a step further and give those individuals a reason to explicitly validate your expertise. Take a seat at the table for discussions. Be seen and heard at events. Find a way to add value to the experts that can help you become an expert as well.

Be Confident

To become an expert, you must first earn it. Once you have earned the right to be called an expert- own it. You are already an expert. No one has walked in your shoes or has your individual combination of training, experience and knowledge. People will treat you how you train them to…both personally and professionally. If you want to be known as and treated as an expert in your field- you must first think of yourself this way.

The Take Away

You have the opportunity to become an expert in any field or niche you choose. Some forms of expertise will have a prescribed training system. But studying is just part of the equation. You must also apply that knowledge and share it with others to become and expert in your field. To connect with others who will support you to Be #1 in Your Field, Live Your Legacy and Create Maximum Impact, join my Play Big Movement at www.playbigmovement.com.