I'm loathe to say I'm an "expert" at anything, because I can always think of someone who knows more or does it better. Saying I'm an expert feels like I'm inviting people to question my knowledge and credentials.
I have been mentally calling myself a consultant, but I like "advisor" better. It sounds more like someone who helps and less like someone who rips off unsuspecting businesses.
Eban Crawford
· 2 years ago
Great post! I like the way you approached this topic. By the way, I would call you an expert in this field.
It never bothers me when someone calls themselves an advisor, consultant, or any other number of titles that convey a knowledge and willingness to in a partnership or advisory role with another entity.
On that same note, people that call themselves an expert, or worse for me, a guru, send up a bit of a warning flag. The reason is, to me, these are terms that should be used by others to describe someone, or to show respect. These words seem very pretentious when used by a person to describe themselves. At least to me.
That of course does not mean that I avoid that person or that I do not build a relationship. It just means that I will usually spend a bit more time scrutinizing that person. But hey, that is me. Others may think the exact opposite, and it is that diversity of opinion that drives change and adaptation. That is a good thing.
And while I am on the subject, another word that usually makes me bristle a bit is diva. I look at what that word has morphed into, denoting an aloof behavior, and I wonder why anyone would want to describe themselves that way. At one time the word was a term of respect, but now seems to denote brattiness and self absorption. Again, just my point of view though.
Jim Hathaway
· 2 years ago
Chris, I appreciate your exploration of this distinction. Like Susanna, I can always think of people who might be more "expert" than I many areas.
The sheer breadth of areas that one needs to know something about these days is expansive, so to characterize oneself as an expert can be a little misleading.
On the other hand, once I'm engaged in a dialogue with folks who need help, I realize anew just how much I really do know, and how many ways I can help them. In that context "advisor" is probably the most productive term.
Greg Swan
· 2 years ago
I got to change my job title recently and advocated for New Media Evangelist. The problem is, where do you go from there? New Media Disciple? Jesus? God? It gets kind of egotistical. So I'm a Digital Strategist, but "digital" is limiting and I like Advisor, too.
What's so great (and challenging) in this industry is you can be an expert today, but if you unplug for a week vacation, you're instantly at least two weeks behind.
Shama Hyder
· 2 years ago
Interesting post Chris.
Although I do see myself performing the function of an advisor, I am comfortable with being called an expert.
And this is not because I feel no one knows more than me. I actually see an expert as being a teacher who may not know it all but 1) does know more than the student, and 2) is constantly learning more than the students regarding a certain topic. In my case, marketing.
Dr.Mani
· 2 years ago
Chris, in 'INFLUENCE: The Psychology of Persuasion', Robert Cialdini delves into the 'shortcuts' we use to survive in an exceedingly complex world. It would be silly (and impossible) to try and learn EVERYTHING on our own, uninfluenced by social behavior and experiences.
In a classic case study, he shows how crowds in a busy city will blithely ignore the suffering of an injured derelict on a sidewalk - until the first person moves in to help, when a crowd soon gathers and follows.
Just as the crowd needs that 'first mover', people need social proof for trying anything new - a 'pioneer' who gets the arrows in his chest (or not) to prove it's safe, or deflect the danger while the follower can slipstream past to safety.
The 'expert' is the pioneer, the guide, the pathbreaker who shows it is safe, attractive and beneficial to try something new. The 'true' expert has paid the price to earn the glory of leading. The 'fake' - well, just fakes it!
I guess I follow your lead in social media, and consider you an expert, for these reasons.
All success Dr.Mani
Marie Williams
· 2 years ago
Great post, Chris! I really enjoyed your analysis of the terms we use to "position" ourselves effectively. They may seem like small distinctions, but still important ones.
I also really agree with your point that if you want to be taken seriously in the social media space, you need to be involved. Social media is nigh impossible to truly understand if you're detached from the community.
Jen
· 2 years ago
It's nice that you changed what you call yourself. But, isn't it more important what you're called by others?
I have a business associate offline that INSISTS on calling me a web guru. To everyone she meets. Do I create websites? Nope. Have I addressed this and asked her to be more specific? Yep. Has it worked. Nope.
So as much as I'd love to be known as a New Media Advisor or Social Media Spotlighter, or Judy Garland...all that matters is what my customers say about me. And they're pretty stuck in their interpretations.
Unless..you think that if you're in the social media space you don't do in person networking with clients and prospects? I know you travel a lot, but are you always hanging out with like-minded people or are there newbies who don't even know why they'd want to be on the Internet in the mix too?
Are you preaching to the already converted?
david
· 2 years ago
Jack of all trades, master of none. People like this. I become a go-to guy but no one expects me to fix the un-fixable, just to conceptually help out. It is a good role.
shelbinator
· 2 years ago
I just consider myself a "power user" to some degree on various social networks/media, so to whatever extent I talk to less-experience people about how they could use such things, it's just as someone who's been exploring a bit of that jungle. What do they call the guide that leads safari tours? I wanna be that. I can take a neophyte into the jungle and show them around, but that's not to say we both might not get eaten by a tiger.
Michael Bailey
· 2 years ago
Well great Chris - par for the course, my response here to your blog post ran on rather long - so, I've decided to create my own blog post regarding this subject.
I can say this for anyone reading - if you find that when you talk about things of interest to you - and you see people looking confused - you are probably an expert on that subject.
Gab Goldenberg
· 2 years ago
There's also a question of what the keywords are. Much as I like to consider myself an SEO consultant, more people are searching for SEO "experts." It's likely that the same thing is occurring in your niche too... So back to the initial question. Are you an expert or an advisor? ;)
Nicole Simon
· 2 years ago
I dislike Expert as much as everybody else, more for the fact that many people use it and clearly are not the ones.
Advisor though has a ring to it "for somebody else" as in not necessary something I can get right away.
In the battle of how to describe this thing what i am good at - which is being an advisor - I came up for my self with the terms analyst and most often specialist.
This describes my expertise in a sense that leaves yet the room for discussion if or if not I am 'enough' of a specialist for you, but I am one.
From there on it is much easier to follow through in communication with customers and possible customers. Because I do not claim I am an expert, I am not imposing the 'i am superior'.
But I like the term advisor very much!
Kat
· 2 years ago
I like the term expert. one definition is : a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field
I think a skill you excel at is turning confusing ideas into something people can understand and put into use. It comes naturally to you, but that doesn't mean it's not a skill. You shouldn't dismiss it.
i also think one night stands are a valid type of relationship they aren't dirty embarassing interactions unless you make them so. Plenty of companies and people want a onsie. how many people can you date at the same time? 2? maybe 3? That's pretty darn limiting.
I think you are an expert in different ways. You seem afraid to take on the title though maybe in social media it's got a bad reputation? Or are folks just afraid of it?
I dunno tossing the term "expert" to the side and dismissing one night stands is a loss to any community
smarten up! *slap*
Kate Carruthers
· 2 years ago
I'm getting the feeling everyone is taking the use of the term 'expert' a bit too seriously. You know some stuff and want to communicate about it. Some people know more stuff than you, others know less. Stuff happens, life goes on.
Maybe it is time to upgrade to a guru? BTW, you know what 'they' call an expert? A has-been drip under pressure ;-)
Chris Steiner
· 2 years ago
Chris,
Great, thought provoking post. So much so that I have rewritten this comment several times because I wanted to make a point about your statement regarding being "known".
My initial reaction was that you grossly understated this point. Of course you need to be know. But then the idea of the breadth and depth of social media hit me. Is an expert on blogging an expert on "social media"? Blogging is, after all, a form of social media. So the answer I think could be yes.
Overall, I think the most important point you make, and it seems to come through in the entire post, is: question everything.
Expert, it would seem to me, is just too generic a term to mean much, especially on-line. It can mean whatever someone wants it to, and there will usually be someone who will buy whatever it is that they are selling.
Eric : Gardenfork.tv
· 2 years ago
couple of thoughts here.
first, Chris Steiner's comment on bloggers reminded me of the idea that bloggers that are prolific posters seem to be labeled social media experts more often than others ( like myself ) who may not be great writers, but still are very active in social media.
i'm not a prolific or stupendous blogger, i write short bursts, but does that make me less of an expert? my bursts: www.ericrochow.com
and on the term expert, i think its fine. people can tell soon enough if you really know what you're talking about; whether you really are an expert or you just call yourself that.
and on being an expert in social media, those of us in this fishbowl are experts in different ways. i have learned a ton from producing Gardenfork.tv and RealWorldGreen.com, mainly from the interactions i have with viewers. Now that i started the Greenhouse, http://thegreenhouse.gardenfork.tv , i'm learning even more.
This is a much different experience from someone who is a text blogger. I'm managing an interactive community, not just writing posts and linking to other blogs.
What I tire of are self annoited 'experts' who write/talk about social media but aren't in the thick of it. They talk about it, but they don't make it. Doing it makes a better expert than just reading about other people doing it.
Chris, you are, to me, a social media expert. You twitter, blog, utterz, podcamp, attention upgrade, etc. etc. What more do people want before one can attain the expert level ?
Joel Mark Witt
· 2 years ago
I agree with Kat. Leave the term Expert on your site.
You are an expert dang it! Don't defend it - just let it be and move on. Not sure I'm willing to slap you though.
Think of it this way... An expert knows what questions to ask and where to go to find the answers. A lot of people really don't have this skill.
All Comments
I have been mentally calling myself a consultant, but I like "advisor" better. It sounds more like someone who helps and less like someone who rips off unsuspecting businesses.
It never bothers me when someone calls themselves an advisor, consultant, or any other number of titles that convey a knowledge and willingness to in a partnership or advisory role with another entity.
On that same note, people that call themselves an expert, or worse for me, a guru, send up a bit of a warning flag. The reason is, to me, these are terms that should be used by others to describe someone, or to show respect. These words seem very pretentious when used by a person to describe themselves. At least to me.
That of course does not mean that I avoid that person or that I do not build a relationship. It just means that I will usually spend a bit more time scrutinizing that person. But hey, that is me. Others may think the exact opposite, and it is that diversity of opinion that drives change and adaptation. That is a good thing.
And while I am on the subject, another word that usually makes me bristle a bit is diva. I look at what that word has morphed into, denoting an aloof behavior, and I wonder why anyone would want to describe themselves that way. At one time the word was a term of respect, but now seems to denote brattiness and self absorption. Again, just my point of view though.
The sheer breadth of areas that one needs to know something about these days is expansive, so to characterize oneself as an expert can be a little misleading.
On the other hand, once I'm engaged in a dialogue with folks who need help, I realize anew just how much I really do know, and how many ways I can help them. In that context "advisor" is probably the most productive term.
What's so great (and challenging) in this industry is you can be an expert today, but if you unplug for a week vacation, you're instantly at least two weeks behind.
Although I do see myself performing the function of an advisor, I am comfortable with being called an expert.
And this is not because I feel no one knows more than me. I actually see an expert as being a teacher who may not know it all but 1) does know more than the student, and 2) is constantly learning more than the students regarding a certain topic. In my case, marketing.
In a classic case study, he shows how crowds in a busy city will blithely ignore the suffering of an injured derelict on a sidewalk - until the first person moves in to help, when a crowd soon gathers and follows.
Just as the crowd needs that 'first mover', people need social proof for trying anything new - a 'pioneer' who gets the arrows in his chest (or not) to prove it's safe, or deflect the danger while the follower can slipstream past to safety.
The 'expert' is the pioneer, the guide, the pathbreaker who shows it is safe, attractive and beneficial to try something new. The 'true' expert has paid the price to earn the glory of leading. The 'fake' - well, just fakes it!
I guess I follow your lead in social media, and consider you an expert, for these reasons.
All success
Dr.Mani
I also really agree with your point that if you want to be taken seriously in the social media space, you need to be involved. Social media is nigh impossible to truly understand if you're detached from the community.
I have a business associate offline that INSISTS on calling me a web guru. To everyone she meets. Do I create websites? Nope. Have I addressed this and asked her to be more specific? Yep. Has it worked. Nope.
So as much as I'd love to be known as a New Media Advisor or Social Media Spotlighter, or Judy Garland...all that matters is what my customers say about me. And they're pretty stuck in their interpretations.
Unless..you think that if you're in the social media space you don't do in person networking with clients and prospects? I know you travel a lot, but are you always hanging out with like-minded people or are there newbies who don't even know why they'd want to be on the Internet in the mix too?
Are you preaching to the already converted?
I can say this for anyone reading - if you find that when you talk about things of interest to you - and you see people looking confused - you are probably an expert on that subject.
Advisor though has a ring to it "for somebody else" as in not necessary something I can get right away.
In the battle of how to describe this thing what i am good at - which is being an advisor - I came up for my self with the terms analyst and most often specialist.
This describes my expertise in a sense that leaves yet the room for discussion if or if not I am 'enough' of a specialist for you, but I am one.
From there on it is much easier to follow through in communication with customers and possible customers. Because I do not claim I am an expert, I am not imposing the 'i am superior'.
But I like the term advisor very much!
one definition is :
a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field
I think a skill you excel at is turning confusing ideas into something people can understand and put into use. It comes naturally to you, but that doesn't mean it's not a skill. You shouldn't dismiss it.
i also think one night stands are a valid type of relationship
they aren't dirty embarassing interactions unless you make them so.
Plenty of companies and people want a onsie. how many people can you date at the same time? 2? maybe 3?
That's pretty darn limiting.
I think you are an expert in different ways.
You seem afraid to take on the title though
maybe in social media it's got a bad reputation?
Or are folks just afraid of it?
I dunno
tossing the term "expert" to the side
and dismissing one night stands
is a loss to any community
smarten up! *slap*
Maybe it is time to upgrade to a guru? BTW, you know what 'they' call an expert? A has-been drip under pressure ;-)
Great, thought provoking post. So much so that I have rewritten this comment several times because I wanted to make a point about your statement regarding being "known".
My initial reaction was that you grossly understated this point. Of course you need to be know. But then the idea of the breadth and depth of social media hit me. Is an expert on blogging an expert on "social media"? Blogging is, after all, a form of social media. So the answer I think could be yes.
Overall, I think the most important point you make, and it seems to come through in the entire post, is: question everything.
Expert, it would seem to me, is just too generic a term to mean much, especially on-line. It can mean whatever someone wants it to, and there will usually be someone who will buy whatever it is that they are selling.
first, Chris Steiner's comment on bloggers reminded me of the idea that bloggers that are prolific posters seem to be labeled social media experts more often than others ( like myself ) who may not be great writers, but still are very active in social media.
i'm not a prolific or stupendous blogger, i write short bursts, but does that make me less of an expert? my bursts: www.ericrochow.com
and on the term expert, i think its fine. people can tell soon enough if you really know what you're talking about; whether you really are an expert or you just call yourself that.
and on being an expert in social media, those of us in this fishbowl are experts in different ways. i have learned a ton from producing Gardenfork.tv and RealWorldGreen.com, mainly from the interactions i have with viewers. Now that i started the Greenhouse, http://thegreenhouse.gardenfork.tv , i'm learning even more.
This is a much different experience from someone who is a text blogger. I'm managing an interactive community, not just writing posts and linking to other blogs.
What I tire of are self annoited 'experts' who write/talk about social media but aren't in the thick of it. They talk about it, but they don't make it. Doing it makes a better expert than just reading about other people doing it.
Chris, you are, to me, a social media expert. You twitter, blog, utterz, podcamp, attention upgrade, etc. etc. What more do people want before one can attain the expert level ?
You are an expert dang it! Don't defend it - just let it be and move on. Not sure I'm willing to slap you though.
Think of it this way... An expert knows what questions to ask and where to go to find the answers. A lot of people really don't have this skill.
Joel Mark Witt