What makes an expert?

[azkaisr]

So the ride well thread got me thinking about this statement. There are topics that we all consider ourselves well versed in. But what really makes someone an expert?

 

 

Here is the first definition of it from Dictionary dot com

"a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field; specialist; authority: a language expert."

 

To me some people act like experts but in fact may or may not have more practical wisdom then others. At what point do you consider yourself an expert?

 

 

To me, I am an expert in only a couple of things by the above definition. For instance, in my field at work, I am considered an expert in business planning within global aerospace environments. What that means is that I am really good at determining who is going to buy a private jet and what kind.

 

In most things that I do a lot of, like photography, riding a motorcycle, Isuzu Trooper shocks and transmissions, I just have a good deal of wisdom. In all of these topics, I would be willing to contribute, but would not consider myself the expert.

 

Curious what criteria you use.

Kaisr

[Deadboy]

From at least 100 miles away and carrying a briefcase was always my favorite criteria.....

[Albert]

Here's the one I was always told:

 

ex = a has-been

spurt = a little drip

 

[BFish]

...member of this forum to begin with....

 

 

(tongue in cheek)

[blkvelvt]

The managers I work for are legends in their own mind. Hardly experts in anything. It's subjective at best. Trust me, I'm an expert.

[yabadabapal]

I'm an expert in nothing, and I do it very well.

[Calvin (no socks)]

Tom, I have never used the term to describe myself.... Until it was thrust upon me...er...I earned it. My manufacturer came up with the rating of Expert. It requires additional work and training. I have had to write essays and complete other tasks as required on a yearly basis. I have been served summons to appear in court as an expert witness against another business, when I arrived outside the chambers, I was mistaken for a Lawer...I won't say I know our product inside out, but I use a different approach to solve problems. I am one of 4 in the state, less than 100 in North America..... You have seen me in action.

 

 

That and $5.00 will get you a latte at Starbucks. Rewards are far and few between.

 

You can be an expert in anything....It just takes time and dedication....

[SageRider]

"a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field; specialist; authority: a language expert."

Wow. Tough one. Everyone can claim to be an expert in something using that definition. Of course, expertise is nothing without credibility, which must be earned.

[Ken H.]

Well I would define it as - Someone with a proven track record of being correct.

[Wheels Rollin']

A thought-provoking question, kaisr...

 

In the business world these days, so many profess to be SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) as if labeling themselves as such really makes 'em one... Hmmm... Maybe so in some cases... though... uh... probably not in a lot of others... I tend to favor the 'been-there-done-that' type... They're not always easily found, but the effort it takes to uncover 'em is well worth it, considering the value of the knowledge they possess and are willing to freely share...

 

To be an expert in something | anything -- is that supposed to mean one knows everything there is to know about a particular subject? If that's the working definition, I'm not an expert in anything... Just call me a work in process with the benefit of some hard-won experience upon which I can draw upon from time to time to chime in authoritatively on occasion... OK -- I may, as you suggest, know a little bit more '... than the average bear...' in some areas, but I don't think that makes me any more qualified than anyone else at proclaiming myself an 'expert' and pontificating at great length about the a topic's virtues... Ultimately, I'd like to think each of us knows what we know based on what we've experienced -- and that it's a one-to-one sync absent exaggeration...

 

Verify and validate always before investing trust and following the 'in-my-opinion-here's-what-you-should-do' path of the proclaimed expert <>...

 

~ Bill

 

[DaveTheAffable]

Expert... is kinna like a consultant.

 

A consultant is an "Outside" guy

...who is brought "Inside"'

....So he can tell you what time it is,

.....by using YOUR watch.

 

[ghaverkamp]

A consultant is an "Outside" guy

...who is brought "Inside"'

....So he can tell you what time it is,

.....by using YOUR watch.

 

As long as they don't go around fixing any glitches...

[Francois_Dumas]

The criteria we often used in 'IT' is that he who happens to hold the user manual is the expert..... and can solve the problem

 

 

[Hermes]

In another life, our Tankership heading to Stockholm had a fuel delivery problem. Our experienced onboard Engineers were unable to diagnose and find the problem. Floundering powerless at the mouth of the British Channel and costing the shipping company tons of money for lost productivity and in delayed delivery penalties, they choppered in an expert (on the Double Pistoned Overhead Doxford engine) from England. Took this fellow less then an hour and we were on our way again. The costs for this outside Expertise was rumored to be many times more then going rate of an Engineer, but it was well worth it.

 

I call that gentleman an expert. I would also call Red Adair (sp), the oilfire fighter, an expert.

 

In my 30 years in IT, the so called experts (Consultants) called in by management not trusting the expertise of their own staff, only served to create tension and usually only increased the costs of major projects. In other words, most often, Experts/Consultants are 'cover-your-a$$, I did everything humanly possible to make this project succesful' pawns in the big game.

[CarrotNC]

Funny you should ask this one as earlier this week we had a lunch discussion about this with one of the old guard at our company. Agreed that when first starting out, we "knew it all" and failed miserably, and no one asked for our opinions. At some point that whole dynamic begins to switch and you know that you don't know it all (or even enough, sometimes) but people begin to ask for your guidance.

 

Eventually, large projects are not launched without your input, and people you've never met will contact you because "they told me you were the expert".

 

Our consensus was that an expert ranking is earned through experience. Then again, people can call themselves whatever they want -- doesn't make 'em into that person.

[Matts_12GS]

Well I would define it as - Someone with a proven track record of being correct.

 

Just like Rush Limbaugh

 

I spent a number of years consulting in both IT and DoD work and I find very little that rings truer than this:

[dewtwo]

Well I would define it as - Someone with a proven track record of being correct.

 

 

 

 

That would make me an expert ALL THE TIME and in ALL SUBJECT MATTERS! Trust me, I am always right; just ask me! :wave:

 

 

 

 

[Couchrocket]

My definition is this: In any field of endeavor there is someone who is accessible as a "source authority" on the subject. Someone who knows not only how it works, but why it works the way it does, and how it was made to work the way it does.

 

That person is an expert. The rest of us are mere "users" of the product / process / topic.

 

My only expertise in life and career is in "finding" the experts and tapping into them to get us where we needed to go in the shortest time / distance possible.

[leikam]

The facetious answer is that an expert is somebody who gets paid to have an opinion.

 

A more substantial reply: an expert is somebody who is consistently right within a given domain. These people tend to know enough about the topic to have a discussion when they're wrong because they understand the context and history into which pieces of the puzzle fit. Opinions aren't isolated as they tend to be with dabblers.

 

I think it's significant that you said " I would be willing to contribute, but would not consider myself the expert." When thinking about this, it's tempting to look only at the pinnacle and discount a lot of people whose knowledge is solid. To my mind, you don't need to be the undisputed best in your field to be at an "expert" level.

[Dave McReynolds]

I think expertise can be either broad or narrow.

 

If I just finished riding over Sonora Pass, and someone on the other side asks me about road conditions over the pass, I am the expert on road conditions over Sonora Pass at that moment. (Or am I only an expert if I charge them for that information?)

[blkvelvt]

Well I would define it as - Someone with a proven track record of being correct.

 

 

 

 

That would make me an expert ALL THE TIME and in ALL SUBJECT MATTERS! Trust me, I am always right; just ask me! :wave:

 

 

It would make my wife an omniexpert as well.

:dopeslap:

 

[leikam]

I think expertise can be either broad or narrow.

 

If I just finished riding over Sonora Pass, and someone on the other side asks me about road conditions over the pass, I am the expert on road conditions over Sonora Pass at that moment. (Or am I only an expert if I charge them for that information?)

 

Well, you're an expert if you do charge them and an ueber-expert if you charge a lot. This is why the money answer is facetious.

 

I'd say that riding a road puts you in the expert camp as long as you were paying reasonable attention, can communicate the relevant details of what you saw and are right. But the contextual awareness is important. If I ask you about the road, but you don't realize that frost heaves or sand in the corners are relevant and say that the road surface is good, then you clearly don't know what you're talking about (i.e., your advice is poor). Despite having recently ridden the road, your status as an expert when it comes to motorcycling would be suspect.

[Ken H.]

Well I would define it as - Someone with a proven track record of being correct.

 

 

 

 

That would make me an expert ALL THE TIME and in ALL SUBJECT MATTERS! Trust me, I am always right; just ask me! :wave:

 

 

 

Actually, I didn't say, "right", I said, "correct." A subtle but important difference!

 

My wife is always right, but sometimes I'm correct!

[bakerzdosen]

My wife is always right, but sometimes I'm correct!

If I ever want to be correct, all I have to do is agree with my wife...

[motorman587]

In my line of work an expert is a person that has more training in a field than an aveage person/ or law enforcement officer. He or she presents (training/experience etc....) this in front of a Judge and the Judge can/will swear you as an expert witness. I have a working resume in the times I have been sworn in as expert in the field of traffic crash reconstruction. In my 21 years of LEO I have been sworn as an expert 4 times in traffic fatalities. Three times in the 2nd Judical Court and once resently in the 12th Judical Court in Florida.

 

For me personal, an expert is a person that has been in subject field more than I, not always true. Has some training/experience in the subject field and can show me how to do it, kicking my a$$ in the process.

[Knifemaker]

To me an "expert" can be anyone who can correctly answer a posed question at the time an answer is needed...If the weatherman who is formally trained is asked if it is raining outside or not and he answers "there's a 50% chance" but the janitor sticks his head outside and says yes it is raining outside.... based on the correct answer the janitor at that moment is the expert...

 

On the other hand if a long term forcast is needed the weatherman is more than likely a a better choice as an expert.

 

So depending on the answer that's needed at the time of need... anyone could possibly be an "expert"

[SageRider]

On the other hand if a long term forcast is needed the weatherman is more than likely a a better choice as an expert.

Really bad example based on typical long term forecast accuracy.....

[Knifemaker]

Quote:

On the other hand if a long term forcast is needed the weatherman is more than likely a a better choice as an expert.

 

 

Really bad example based on typical long term forecast accuracy.....

 

 

I knew I was going to be hit by that one.....But it drives the point home about experts.....

[upflying]

I am an expert court witness in accident reconstruction. I am told that means I have more knowledge that the average person in this field.

I would assume expert means the same thing.

[Hoover]

The way I have always heard it told is:

 

X = The unknown

spurt = A drip, under pressure

 

So...expert = An unknown drip under pressure.

 

(this is meant totally tongue in cheek)