Are you an expert? How to know for sure?

When are you an expert?

​When I updated my about page on my website, I thought wow! 30 years in the purchasing and supply chain management industry.

​I did not realise I had THAT much experience in my field. 

​Does this mean I am an expert? ​

I pondered if the time had come to start calling myself an expert. If you have every wondered when you become an expert, read on to find out. 

When can you call yourself an expert? 
​

What is the definition of an expert? How do you determine if someone is an expert? 

I often wondered if expert status is time served or is expert status based on the gravitas of one’s experience?
 
Many articles suggest 3 ways to identify as an expert:

• Qualifications & accreditation
• Experience
• Research

 
I think each of the above individually, does not constitute an expert. But if you have all 3, this may mean you are an expert.
 
I have encountered individuals (who are professionally qualified) who don’t have a Scooby about the industry they work in.

This is why (in my opinion) qualifications and accreditations are worthless without the appropriate experience. And lifelong learning and relevant research is essential if you want to be referred to as an expert.  
positivemom.com makes a valid point in their article on the subject of ‘calling oneself an expert’-
 
“people want to do business with the woman in the trenches that speaks from experience, not from textbooks”.
 
I also came across the fake it until you make it attitude, with one author openly stating, “I’m blessed with the gift of self-confidence”.
 
I can think of another word for it…………

What makes someone an expert? 
​

The number one hit on search term ‘calling yourself an expert’ is an article by Mr D Schawbel published July 20, 2009. He suggests the following 7 signs constitute an expert:
 
1.More knowledge than others.
2.Recognised credentials.
3.Can demonstrate expertise.
4.Proven track record of success.
5.Many testimonials.
6.Well-versed in failure.
7.Other experts refer to you.
 
Points 1,2,3 and 4 are consistent with other articles I've read but I wasn’t as convinced as Google that this article provided the definitive reason why people can call themselves an expert.
 
The article is inherently biased towards individuals who live their life on social media platforms.

I was also unsure as to how ‘well-versed in failure’ proved you are an expert. Unless it meant you could call yourself an expert in failing?
 
An article by Ms K Cherry, published March 29, 2022, provided a better explaination:
 
“experts are not always perfect. Experts do make mistakes, but they're also ready to catch their own errors and eager to learn from them. Mistakes are a form of feedback. They tell us not only what not to do, but also what we might try instead. Experts are able to spot these mistakes, correct course, and apply this knowledge in the future”.
 
Ms Cherry continues “expertise as a result of hard work and practice means the expert is often described as a “master” or “Virtuoso”.
 
Naomi Clews – Virtuoso of public procurement processes

Is calling yourself an expert arrogant? 
​

​An article by Mr J Bariso, published December 13th, 2016, argued:
 
“Stop telling us you're an expert. Just get out there and prove it”.
 
Now I can relate to Mr Bariso’s article as I’ve always had a problem with using the word ‘expert’ to describe myself.

I have used the word 'expert' sparingly, but would prefer others to determine if I am an expert instead.
 
Mr J Goins on the subject of ‘should I call myself an expert’ in his article published November 17th, 2017 states:
 
“You don’t get to call yourself an expert. It’s a term best used when describing other people, not yourself. It’s a title you should avoid using for as long as possible until others are insisting you really are an expert”.

​Mr S Morgan posted an article 19th August 2021 advocating to never, ever, call yourself an expert:
 
“Expert is tacky.......it suggests you’ve learnt all there is to know”.

Is it possible to learn all there is to know?

I fail to see how a person can know everything about a subject but am the first to admit, winners of BBC 2 TV programme Mastermind come very close to knowing everything.

​These individuals have acquired a body of knowledge that makes them one of the most informed individuals in their field.
 
I am currently learning to play golf. Anders Ericsson’s book Peak: The New Science of Expertise was recommended to me.

​Ericsson’s research regarding the ten-thousand-hour rule to becoming an expert is widely quoted when discussing how to become an expert.
 
But Ericsson himself points out 3 flaws to the interpretation of his own research:

• Skilled isn’t the same as expert – very good is not the same as mastering something.
• Some skills take longer or less time to acquire.
• In the original study, 10,000 hours was only an average.  

 
Instead, Ericsson recommends deliberate practice (receiving training and instruction from a qualified teacher).

Ericsson argues that gaining true expertise involves practicing in a way that pushes the boundaries of current skill levels and knowledge.
 
Becoming an expert takes a great deal of effort. And people who become experts in any field devote a tremendous amount of time, energy, and hard work toward learning and practicing their skills.
 
However, research found that practice played a greater role in music, athletics, and games, and less of a role for increasing professional or educational performance.
 
Becoming an expert requires constant work within the zone of proximal development. It requires an individual to develop skills above their current ability level.
 
Individuals can develop and strengthen their abilities with further challenge and practice by reaching for new skills, mastering them, and progressively expanding their zone of proximal development.
 
For example, I support clients through the public procurement process. Eventually, my clients learn everything they need to know about how to write a winning tender for their organisation and they no longer require my services (as a trusted advisor and mentor) to help them to achieve this.

Instead, my clients will only contact me when something unusual crops up and they need professional support. 

Am I an expert? 
​

In conclusion, I will let my clients decide if I am the expert they want to work with, whilst I concentrate on developing my existing skills and learning new ones.  

About the author
​

Naomi Clews

Naomi Clews, management consultant and owner of boutique procurement advisory firm Naomi Clews Consultancy Limited has a 30 year purchasing and supply chain management career in both the private sector and the public sector. Find out more here.