It used to be true that to get ahead at work, you needed to develop skill, knowledge and expertise that no one else had. This magic formula would save you from getting fired or laid off and be key in moving up the career ladder. Since no one else knew what you knew and no one else could do what you could do, you were a mission critical employee – a key associate.
This isolationist magic formula is no longer valid (if it ever was!).
Here are six reasons you need to be proactive about sharing your knowledge at work.
You can be seen as an expert.
Today’s organizations are flatter than ever – following the Great Recession. Your boss today may not be your boss tomorrow. If you are seen as an expert across all sections and levels of the organization, you will have more access to opportunities and a better chance of being retained by any one part of the organization.
I was lucky enough to become known as an expert due to an assignment that required me to develop in depth knowledge of a topic that cut across multiple areas of the organization. In that position, I implemented several classes, which I taught, to help others understand that area. After teaching the classes several times, my name got out there as a go to person on the subject. This caused me to be drafted to present to future clients and assist with new client conversions and education. Since the group vice president often attended the client presentations, he heard my presentations and training. Having upper management see you doing something right and pleasing the client never hurts!
If you aren’t forced to develop special expertise, you can do it by finding something on which to focus in your work responsibility area. Then you can take steps to learn about it by subscribing to periodicals and websites that focus on it, reading books, or by picking a mentor in that expert area from whom to learn.
You will develop your speaking skills.
Survey’s have shown that speaking in public is hated more than going to the dentist by the majority of people. If you become known as an expert and start sharing your knowledge, it will lead to opportunities to talk about your subject matter. You will know it well (since you are an expert), which will allow you to focus more on the mechanics of public speaking than in trying to get the material correct.
Start by sharing one on one with someone in your company that needs to understand what you know. Step up to volunteering information in small meetings on the subject. If your knowledge area pertains to a certain industry, join an industry organization – either at work or outside of work- and start sharing your expertise there. These small steps can lead to speaking engagements which might end up paying you well, either in money or in building up your network.
You can add new people to your network.
As you become known as an expert, you will get unsolicited questions from people you don’t know. They will call you up or shoot you an email and say Jim, over in packaging said I should call you about this. Take the time to figure out what this person really needs to understand, then give them the best answer you can as quickly as you can. Let them know that you are happy to respond to questions and help solve issues related to your area and they will recommend you to yet another contact. Of course, you are capturing these names and their information so that you have it for future reference.
I have even gotten thank you notes and gifts from various folks I helped at work. Although that was the exception, it really did feel good to be acknowledged. (Hint, if someone helps you, send them a thank you!).
You can develop your writing skills.
As part of sharing your knowledge, you may be asked (or want) to document what you know. Organizing the material and putting it out on a company wiki in the best format for use will force you to develop your literary skills and your business writing skills.
Your company may call on you to present material to the company’s peers in the industry – once they see your expertise and newly developed writing skills. Doing so will lead to an even bigger network of contacts and you will be seen as an expert throughout the industry – not just in your company.
You won’t be stuck in your position forever.
In the old model, mentioned at the top of this article, folks thought they should keep their knowledge to themselves so they would be mission critical. However, if you are too mission critical to a certain department at a certain level, you will not be recommended for promotions or other opportunities. After all, the company would put itself in a bad position by losing your special knowledge in your current position.
By sharing your expertise, you open up a greater possibility of being able to move on.
You may be able to create your own opportunities.
By sharing your knowledge with your associates, you may stumble upon ideas which could be implemented to help your company. Perhaps your knowledge, combined with Sharon’s expert area causes the two of you to hatch a scheme to build a new product or grab a new customer.
At the very least, your example of teaching others may lead you to working with your company’s training department to implement a formalized version of peer-peer teaching and learning in a classroom situation. In this model, the training department supplies the meeting rooms and materials such as white boards, projectors and inclusion in the companies training offerings; while the expert instructor supplies the course work and time for teaching. Experts throughout the company lead classes to teach those with a desire or need to know the subject.
Luckily, my company already had a peer-peer learning system set up, so all I had to do was to volunteer to lead the classes – and to suggest needed classes.
Outside of work, you may decide to write an eBook or develop a website about the material (make sure you are legally entitled to do so and won’t be sharing trade secrets first!). This could bring in extra income at some point in the future.
If your expertise is pertinent to the local community, check out opportunities to teach one or two sessions of a class (that you design) at your local high school, community college or communiversity. This will give you a chance to promote your book and/or website even more and might lead to news coverage and paid speaking engagements.
If you aren’t disclosing company secrets and do present your industry and company in a positive light, this activity (if known to your management) will be viewed as a sign of extra initiative as well.
I’ve presented six reasons to share your knowledge at work – can you think of other benefits in doing so? What avenues do you use to develop or share your expertise?
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post. I love collaborating and working with others. I am constantly engaging those around me. I find it so beneficial for a lot of the reasons that you mention. I learn so much too. Things I didn’t know before.
Miss T, it is great that you are open minded – to listen and learn from engagement with others.
As a teacher who is not looking to be anything other than a teacher, it is still relevant. I am amking myself invaluable by goinng on committees where I can shine. I am heading the budget committee. For over thirty years, I was a CFO and business owner. I am also heading the technology committee since I teacher computer applications, this is not a huge leap. Although I am a tenured teacher, I saw first hand that my assignment can change. This is important in every profession.
Sounds like you are doing yourfair share of sharing your expertise. It’s great to be needed!
Very true. I got the reputation as the ‘Excel’ guru in an office a couple of years ago. Just being asked to fix a problem would usually lead to discussions with someone where I got some valuable face time, plus points for being ‘good’ at something.
Excel guru…hmmm… There is a lot that can be done with Excel. I once went to an online meeting where an Excel guru shared some great tips on doing some really useful things.
It’s important to be seen as a team player, which is a trait that goes over well in most workplaces. Additionally, if you have specific knowledge that you can share which would help out your colleagues, you can be seen as a resource. Good for job security.
Glad you agree!
Excellent advice, my only 2 cents is not to share “too much” and make sure its correct knowledge, otherwise you can be seen as a loudmouth.
J.B. – good point. No one likes a ‘know it all’.
All good points. Let me add a minor drawback to being seen as a subject matter expert: the requests for help may be overwhelming at some point, possibly leading to overcommitment. But then again, this might offer the opportunity to learn to say “no” gracefully and effectively.
Good point. You do have to get your ‘real’ job done – so sometimes you do have to opt out or send them along to someone else who knows.
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