Maybe you’re struggling to gain professional traction. Maybe you’re tired of being passed over for promotion. Maybe you’re feeling limited in your current role.
Where can you begin to become a sought-after professional?
As the song goes, “Start at the very beginning. A very good place to start.” (Thank you, Julie Andrews.)
To be Sought-After, you must be ready and able to demonstrate knowledge and a level of expertise in your chosen field. It doesn’t matter if you work in HR, marketing, finance, logistics, or another field. You must know what you are talking about if you want to be heard, be trusted, and be recognized for your expertise.
You do not need to know everything in your field – in fact, willingness to continue learning is crucial to deepening your expertise. How can you become more of an expert in your field?
Listen. Find someone you admire professionally. Watch and listen to how they learn and apply themselves in the workplace.
Read, read, read. Whether it’s books or case studies or your company’s annual report, there is a world of information available at your fingertips.
Volunteer. Yes, that’s right. Find an organization that needs help (there are plenty out there waiting for willing volunteers), and get dirty on the front lines or serve on a committee. Volunteer roles can be some of the most effective classrooms when it comes to learning and honing your expertise.
The more you learn, the more you know and the more you can contribute to your workplace and grow professionally. But while it’s important to bring your expertise to the table and to contribute appropriately to the conversation, it is equally important to identify when silence is golden.
Consider:
- Is what I have to say valuable to the whole group or is it better addressed one-on-one?
- Will my contributions help shape the decisions that need to be made at this meeting?
- Do I really know what I’m talking about?
Years ago, I was advised to count to 10 before offering a comment at a meeting. I have learned to use that time to consider the above questions before jumping into the conversation. As I have learned to discern when it is wise to contribute, I have become respected for my knowledge and my experience.
In my experience, sought-after professionals who Know Their Stuff can be described as:
- Vulnerable
- Confident
- Humble
- Curious
So how well do you Know Your Stuff?
- Ugh – just starting out in my career.
- Well – I know a lot of “book” (technical) stuff but not how to apply that knowledge.
- Holding my own with my peers in the company and in my profession.
- Rock Star, baby! I’ve got this building block nailed down.
- I’m good but always work to learn even more (whether others see that or not!).
No matter your profession, you can learn how to become Sought-After. Ready to get started? Check out my book, Sought-After: How to Be Heard, Be Trusted and Be Recognized for Your Expertise. Want to inspire your entire workplace toward excellence? Learn more here.
Interested in a complimentary copy of the book? Leave a comment letting me know how well you Know Your Stuff and what you think may be holding you back. I’ll send a book to the first three commenters!
