How to Look Like An Expert

Expert. Noun. A person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.

Straight from the dictionary.

However, so many experts actually don’t see themselves as such. For example, you. You probably don’t see yourself as an expert.

But here’s the interesting thing.

We’re all an expert in something. And by expert we mean that we’re sure you are knowledgable about something that the common person probably isn’t quite versed in.

And that’s an expert.

(PS- We love Charlie Chaplin’s silent movies… And may be an expert on them.)

Knowing a lot about something that others in the room don’t know or understand.

Even if that means knowledge from growing up on a farm or having an obsession with Charlie Chaplin or building a business from scratch. Each of us has knowledge we’re able to share.

Which means that in something, we’re all experts.

Including you.

But the question today isn’t whether or not you’re an actual expert or not, but entirely about how to show you’re an expert.

How does someone come off as an expert?

Here are four easy tips.

1) Be confident in your knowledge.

Did you know that it only takes about 25 pounds of pressure to break a rib?

This person came in contact with more than 25 pounds of pressure, we’re sure.

Now, I’m not a doctor nor do I call myself an expert but with confidence and knowledge that the common man doesn’t know that, I can be deemed the expert of rib breakage within a room.

Confidence is a key factor in proving authoritative on a subject.

2) Be willing to share your knowledge, consistently.

One-on-one meetings, networking groups, seminars, webinars, articles, blogs, social media.

Your information should be everywhere, but be aware that though you want your knowledge to spread like wildfire, you must do it because you want your audience to use it… Not because you want something from it (like a referral or sale).

Knowledge should be free. We shouldn’t have to pay Google overtime we have a question or a problem, right?

Giving your knowledge away will inspire those around you who will, with time, spend more money with you than they would have done originally.

Why?

Because you’re the authority they have grown to trust. You’ve built a relationship with them as an expert.

3) Know that you may not always know the answer… And that’s okay.

I love teaching seminars. It’s quickly become one of the things I look forward to on my calendar.

Which is odd once you learn that I’m quite an introvert.

I remember the first seminar I taught–I stood in the front with the thought, “What am I doing here? Everyone will think I’m a fraud. Surely they know all of this already. What if they ask me something I don’t know?” ringing through my head.

You would have thought that I would have bowed out the next time.

But as the seminar came to a close, I was asked a question that solidified my very fear: I didn’t know the answer.

I managed to get out, “You know what, I’m not sure. I’m sorry. But, let me go home and do some research, and I’ll be happy to email you the answer tonight or tomorrow morning.”

And it ended up being just fine. In fact, it was more than fine.

Be willing to teach consistently… And be willing to know not the answer to everything.

Why?

Because she knew then that I wasn’t willing to throw away my reputation by making something up but would rather find the right answer for her later.

Even though I didn’t know, I continued to build trust as an expert.

4) Know that as an expert, you must always be learning more.

And, because we don’t know everything, (how could we?) we must always be looking and researching our field more.

Learning of the latest trends, benefits, features, and audiences. Figuring out new methods of executing old problems.

There is always more and more to learn about any subject which is why researching and learning is crucial to becoming an expert in anything.

Even after you’ve learned you’re an expert.

Now It’s Your Turn

What are you an expert in and how will you go about proving your authoritative knowledge?

Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below!

And as always, thanks for reading!