When something or someone is important to you and needs help, you will want advice from an expert. Whether it’s a loved one or your business you don’t want to get less than excellent advice or help.
How do you determine if someone is an expert?
Malcolm Gladwell discussed in his bestseller, “Outliers“, to become an expert it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice. At 40 hours a week that is roughly 5 years. Doesn’t seem long enough to me and time is not necessarily the best determinant.
Bottom line: We cannot know for sure. There are no iron-clad criteria.
However, there are soft criteria, such as…
Successful performance: Clients consistently report remarkable results.
Peer respect: Colleagues admire an expert’s work and tell others (refer their clients and others)
Career Experience: It takes time to become an expert. Usually many, many years.
Quality of knowledge: It’s easy to understand the depth and quality of an expert’s knowledge. Writing and speaking provide opportunities for building knowledge credibility.
Reliability or Credibility… Not Credentials: Credentials reveal a minimum level of expertise and are not connected to being an expert.
Also, Be Aware That…
Genuine experts are more likely to admit a mistake. They have confidence and don’t tend to boast or brag. They have been doing their profession or using their unique talent for a long time. They understand what beginners don’t.
How do you find an expert?
References, Reviews and Referrals are helpful. With social media the reviews may be rigged. Maybe their friends wrote the glowing reviews. I try to find someone I truly trust to lead me to a true expert. There is nothing to compare to a personal referral.
Because someone is an expert they should and probably do charge more. Be sure to plan ahead so you have the resources to pay an expert’s higher rate.
From personal and professional experience I can say with complete conviction that it is well worth the financial investment. You also save a lot of time and if it’s a goal of yours, you will likely make more money. I’m in agreement with those who say you get what you pay for!
Cheers to a new year and decade!
MarGO!
Professional Counselor and Business, Career, Life Coach
404-218-4559
MargoGeller@Gmail.com
www.MargoGeller.com
