After spending many years in your chosen field of work you may be in a situation where you have a lot of knowledge that you want to pass on or even use to help others succeed, but how would you go about achieving this?
Here are a few ways to share your professional expertise comfortably and easily.
Become a Mentor
There’s no shortage of
young professionals looking for guidance. When you see a newbie with potential but in need of support, take that person under your wing. Share the hard-earned lessons you’ve collected over the years.
At the same time, keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. After all, the best part about mentorship is that—when it’s a strong partnership—both people learn equally. As a mentor, you’ll gain a new perspective about the work you do. Your mentee’s youthful inexperience can provide you with a wealth of powerful insight…if you’re open to it.
Write About your Knowledge and Experiences
The written word is always a wonderful tool for reaching others. Consider writing an article for a publication catering to your industry or profession. Or start a blog! Nothing is more empowering than putting your thoughts out there for the world to see. The Internet attracts a global audience and I know from experience that the connections you make can be life (and career) changing.
Plus, as a published author—whether online or in print—you’re automatically afforded a certain level of authority. It seems strange, but writers are presumed to be experts (sadly, even if they have no clue what they’re saying).
My point, however, is this: A few bylines can quickly elevate your professional visibility and shape your reputation as a leader in your field. Just be sure that whatever you put into writing is something you stand by wholeheartedly and are proud of…because it creates a permanent record that can and will follow you for the rest of your career.
Train Others
Offer to present on a topic of interest at a local industry conference or meeting of your professional association. Host a lunch and learn event at your company. Present what you know with confidence, in a way that engages and enlightens your audience. Remember not to talk “down” to people; as the instructor, part of your role is to tap the wisdom in the room. Open the conversation so others can share their expertise as well. Don’t presume you’re the only one with something to say.
Training others in any setting, big or small, will help boost your public speaking skills (incredibly valuable for any profession) and position you as an authority. Just like writing, standing in front of a room creates automatic credibility.
Be a Resource
When you read an exceptionally helpful article, stumble upon a useful new piece of information, or find a more effective way of doing things, don’t keep it to yourself. Every day, you likely have something worthwhile to share that could be beneficial to your colleagues. You don’t have to wait for a formal training session or an explicit request for help. Instead, simply shoot off an email to your co-workers that says something like:
“Hey guys, I found this article helpful. Thought you might enjoy it too.”
OR
“Not sure if you guys knew this, but I just figured out that XYZ software has this cool hidden feature! Here’s a step-by-step on how to use it just in case it’s new for you too.”
Imagine if one of your colleagues did this for you. How would you feel? How would you view that person? Your small gesture can positively influence someone’s entire career. It’s definitely worth the few minutes required.
Take the Lead
If you have special expertise that could be beneficial to a particular task or project, don’t be afraid to take the reins. I often see highly experienced folks who don’t want the responsibility of leadership, so they sit back and keep their mouths shut. Then, after the project is underway, they slowly let it be known that they have expertise that could have been helpful but no one listened to them…Oh, poor victim!
Don’t make people beg for your help or insight. Volunteer it. Step up and offer to guide the ship if you know you’d make a good captain. If you have something to contribute, get out front. Just remember that the best leaders encourage everyone on the team to share their expertise too.