essay about expert power

Expert Power Examples, Definition And Importance

When individuals have a high level of knowledge in a particular subject or are exceptionally skilled at a specific task,…

When individuals have a high level of knowledge in a particular subject or are exceptionally skilled at a specific task, they are said to wield expert power. 

Expert power is invaluable to the success of any organization. Unlike the power bestowed by formal title and designations, expert power is personal and demonstrated in action. Expert power is something any of us can attain if we are willing to put in the time and the effort required. 

A person’s expert power defines their standing in hierarchies, regardless of their official level or grade within their organization. An expert power example can be someone in the team who is the only person around to understand a particular language, write code in a particular computer programming language, or has first-hand experience of field or market conditions. Such individuals personify the expert power definition, becoming the go-to people for that specific knowledge or skill. It is a power that comes from others' belief that this individual possesses a level of expertise that is unique and which they do not possess themselves.

Why Is Expert Power Important?

The question of why expert power is important can be answered in several ways.

Expert power can be more conducive to an organization than reward-based or coercive power in leading people effectively. Your team is more inclined to listen to people who have a demonstrated ability to deliver results in a particular sphere of action. 

People with expert power define the way others trust them: for direction, for taking crucial calls and for delivering great results. It is also likely for experts’ skills to pass on to the team members they work with. But this is only possible when you continuously develop those skills and knowledge to remain an expert power example.

The contribution of former president APJ Abdul Kalam to the field of science and technology is held up as an example even today. He is a great model of someone with expert power. Fondly referred to as the ‘Missile Man’ for his work with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), technologies he worked on are still being used by these institutions.

Kalam believed, “Excellence is a continuous process and not an accident.” 

Why Is Expert Power Important To An Individual?

Leading more confidently because of your firm grasp of the subject under purview is an expert power definition. Expert power makes your team look up to you and not resist your leadership.

Your ability to stand out in certain areas could lead to advancements in your career.  You can use your know-how to build influence outside your company by participating in industry forums and conducting workshops.

Expert power helps get crucial decisions right, even in high-pressure situations.

How To Build Expert Power

Building expertise is no easy task. It is time-consuming, but if you do it right, the pay-off is usually guaranteed. Here are a few ways you can accomplish that.

Make your expertise visible

Expertise is often linked to education and experience. Make your education, work experience, and accomplishments visible to others around you. Create opportunities to demonstrate your knowledge.

Protect your credibility

Take great care to protect your expert power. Avoid careless decisions that may result in loss of credibility, and avoid being reckless about unfamiliar subjects.

Tailor your expert power to real needs

You can quickly lose expert power after the initial excitement if people realize that your expertise is mostly academic, with very little relevance to practical situations and reality. Respect organizational needs and tailor your knowledge to suit the requirements.

Though many have the potential to meet the expert power definition, only a few manage to eventually earn their stripes. It requires a great deal of energy to build and then maintain a high level of expertise. Why is expert power important, you may ask. Because it lasts longer than other forms of power and offers the most durable solutions. 

Harappa Education offers an online course called Navigating Workplaces to teach you techniques to cut through office politics and identify your cultural fit in an organization. The course enables you to master the essential skills of influencing others and dealing with conflict. 

It includes a section on power structures that can help you understand the types of power people hold. Carving out a niche for yourself by seizing the opportunities that come your way will help you expand your knowledge—capitalize on these opportunities to achieve fulfillment in your professional life. 

Explore topics such as Building Relationships , Types of Power , Definition of Reliability & Types of Reliability from our Harappa Diaries section.

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What is expert power?

Why does expert power matter, how to build your expert power.

The drawbacks of expert power

Ways to share your expert power

They say knowledge is power, and that’s certainly the case with expert power. 

Expert power is a type of power that comes as a result of having deep, expert knowledge on a subject. If you know a lot about something, especially if you have developed expertise in the field, you can influence and inform those who know less than you about that subject. 

Expert power can make you indispensable to your team. It can also help them work more effectively and maybe even be more productive .

Expert power has some pitfalls, too. It can give you tunnel vision. If you rely too much on your "expert" status instead of listening to others, learning, and staying on your edge , you can quickly become irrelevant.

In a fast-changing world, power that comes from being an "expert" is less valuable than your ability to influence based on continuously evolving your expertise. 

Let’s take a deep dive into what expert power is, why it matters, and how you can cultivate your expert power to become a better leader and empower your team .

Expert power is a type of power that comes from having a high level of knowledge within your area of expertise. Expert power is relative. This means that if two people have varying levels of knowledge on a subject, the one with more knowledge has expert power. Expert power is not static — someone else can have more expertise or knowledge can become obsolete.

While there are several types of power , they are divided into two main categories: positional power and personal power.

Positional power can be issued through positions and titles. Personal power is internal and unique to each person. It is not dependent on a role or title.

Expert power is a type of personal power, which means anyone can cultivate it regardless of their position.

These forms of power are often confused. Expert power comes from knowledge or expertise, but position often serves as a proxy for expertise. In some organizations, people tend to assign expert power to people in certain positions.

Having expert power can help you access positions of authority within your organization. It can also increase your executive presence , which helps you position yourself as a leader.

Expert power is one of the five types of power that psychologists John R. P. French and Bertram Raven identified in 1959. The other four are:

• Legitimate power : the power that comes from a title or position, such as CEO.
• Reward power : belongs to those with the ability to motivate others through rewards.
• Referent power : a type of personal power that comes from having charisma and great interpersonal skills.
• Coercive power : the use of threats to force people to do things — even if they don’t want to. This is one of the least effective forms of power.

Example of expert power

Anyone can have expert power, regardless of their role within a company. Even someone in an entry-level position can have expert power in the right situation. Consider the following example.

Sarah is a recent college graduate who has just landed her first job as a product designer. Sarah has been an LGBTQ+ activist since she was in her teens and continues to campaign in her spare time.

Within a few months of joining, the company asks Sarah to form part of a task force. The task force is working to make sure their products are inclusive and meet the needs of LGBTQ+ people. 

In spite of her junior position at the company, Sarah leverages expert power within the task force thanks to her background and knowledge of the LGBTQ+ community.

Now that you know what expert power is, let’s take a look at five reasons why it matters.

1. It empowers your team

When you lead by example with expert power, it can motivate your team members to improve their own expert knowledge .

By modeling continuous learning and development , you inspire your team members to do the same. This empowers them to become experts in their own right.

Plus, sharing your expert knowledge with your team strengthens the expert power of the team as a whole.

2. It motivates your team members

Expert power is all about perception. People trust leaders who they perceive to have expert power because it makes them feel like they are in safe hands.

Following a trusted expert can motivate and inspire your team members . Knowing that you have the capacity to lead the team successfully and achieve its goals gives them confidence in their own abilities. 

3. It improves your decision-making

Expertise is a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience. 

The better you understand your sector and industry, as well as your own particular niche, the easier and quicker it will be for you to make decisions. Not only that, but people with expert power are more likely to make the right decisions for your business .

Making good decisions can save you time and help you avoid costly mistakes. It also positions you as a capable leader within your organization .

4. It can boost your career

Having specialized knowledge or a set of in-demand skills has obvious advantages for your career. If you continue to develop a specific skill set, over time, your colleagues and peers will begin to view you as an expert on that subject. 

This means that when they think of someone to receive a promotion in that area, your name is more likely to be on the list, thanks to your special skills. Qualifications gained as you’ve developed your expert power can also make you more competitive for new roles.

5. It contributes to your leadership development

Having expert knowledge can help you develop leadership skills in your field simply because you know what you need to do. 

Let’s say you’ve spent 10 years in different marketing roles. You’ve managed accounts, designed and implemented strategies, and created content . Thanks to your experience, you’ve gained expert knowledge that will help you step easily into a leadership role managing a content creation team.

If you’re ready to start building your expert power, here are seven tips that you can start implementing today.

1. Practice, practice, practice

They say it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert. To achieve that within 10 years, you would need to practice for three to four hours every day.

Schedule time for your daily practice — ideally, it should be at the same time every day. You might also want to set goals and give yourself rewards to help you stay motivated.

2. Be a lifelong student

A true expert never stops learning. Leverage self-directed learning , continue to take courses, and gain certifications throughout your career. Work with mentors and leaders in your specific area to benefit from their knowledge and experience. Read relevant books , journals , and blogs, or listen to podcasts by experts in your field. 

But don’t keep all your new knowledge to yourself — share it with both junior and senior colleagues. Doing so will benefit the company while helping to establish and maintain your expert status.

3. Be confident

Your expert knowledge is only one piece of the puzzle. The other part of wielding expert power is showing up to be perceived as an expert.

For people to perceive you as an expert, you must project the image of an expert. This means speaking confidently about your area of expertise. That doesn't mean being arrogant or thinking you have all the answers, though. Most fields are undergoing rapid change — true confidence is being willing to ask questions.

4. Maintain your credibility

Being an expert means having a lot of knowledge within a narrow field or niche. Having expert power depends on people’s perceptions of you. 

You might think that revealing gaps in your knowledge will undermine your power. But being blind to your gaps and not knowing how to learn from others will be far more damaging. To maintain your credibility as an expert, focus on talking about what you know and never pretend your knowledge is greater than it is. 

With this said, there is nothing wrong with not knowing an answer. Experts admit when they don’t know. The difference between an expert and a non-expert is that an expert will prioritize finding the answer or solution. You will find that your expertise can help you ask better questions of others and synthesize new information — once you stop focusing on being the one with the answers.

5. Stay cool under pressure

The ability to stay cool, calm, and collected under pressure is the hallmark of an expert. When you trust in your expertise, you can make timely decisions that lead to the best possible outcomes. This increases your expert power in the eyes of your colleagues.

6. Share your knowledge

Be generous with your expertise, and empower your team members through your knowledge. Ways to share your knowledge include: 

• Giving presentations
• Sending out regular newsletters
• Posting on social media
• Mentoring a junior coworker

7. Display your expertise

For some people, and some organizations, external symbols help solidify expert power. If you have certificates, diplomas, or any other qualification that reinforces your position as an expert, display them in your office for all to see. 

You can even use photos of yourself delivering an important speech or other evidence of your achievements. 

There is a caveat, though. While there’s nothing wrong with being proud of your achievements, avoid rubbing them in people’s faces, as this may come across as arrogant. Remember, there is a difference between arrogance versus confidence.

The drawbacks of expert power 

We’ve seen how expert power can empower your team and help you build your career. But it’s important to be aware of its potential pitfalls, too. Here are four of the main ones.

1. It can come across as condescending

There’s a fine line between sharing your expertise and talking down to colleagues. Be aware that people often object to unfavorable comparisons, especially if there’s a large gap between your knowledge and theirs.

So don’t be a know-it-all. Be open to diversity and the possibility that other people have different kinds of knowledge. All are equally valuable, and we can all learn from one another. 

2. It requires maintenance

For an expert, the learning never stops. A doctor who trained in the 1970s and then failed to update their knowledge as new science became available is still a doctor, but they are not an expert.

Another doctor who also trained in the 1970s but then went on to specialize in nutrition and gut health is likely an expert in their field.

3. It can limit your vision

As mentioned earlier, having expert power can help you make better decisions. The flip side is that it can make you too reliant on your own judgment and forget to consult your team.

The risk is that you might make some decisions that don’t take into account all of the necessary factors. If you’re an expert holding a leadership position , it’s important to stay open to the input and perspectives of your team members. 

4. It diminishes the more you use it

The more knowledge you share with your team, the more your expert power decreases because the gap between your knowledge and theirs becomes smaller.

Let’s say you’re the only person on your team who knows how to code — that makes you the coding expert. But if you teach your colleagues the basics of coding, you reduce the gap between your knowledge and theirs. At the same time, your expert power over them diminishes.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t share your knowledge, though. You can maintain your expert status by continuously acquiring more knowledge. Also, sharing your expertise with your colleagues can increase other types of personal power, such as referent power.

Because expert power is all about perception, one of the best ways to use it is by sharing your expertise. This is a win-win as it helps you maintain your expert status while doing something positive for your team.

1. Empower your team members

When you see a colleague struggling, don’t just step in and do it for them. Use this opportunity to empower them by sharing your expert knowledge and guiding them through the task. 

This will help them increase their own expertise and motivate them to keep growing and developing in their career.

2. Celebrate the contributions of others

You may be the expert, but you can’t achieve anything without the contributions of your colleagues. 

Celebrating team members for their performance can encourage them to develop their own expertise.

3. Help colleagues develop their skills

Helping team members develop their skills can benefit your organization by addressing skills gaps .

Here are a few ways to share your expertise:

• Advise junior colleagues on industry trends so that they know which areas to focus on
• Train team members to help them build new skills
• Start writing newsletters, blogs, or LinkedIn Pulse articles
• Start your own YouTube channel or podcast

Empower your team through expert power 

By developing your expert power, you can set yourself up for a successful career in your field. But remember that an expert is a person who not only holds a lot of knowledge but who is generous in sharing that knowledge, too.

Experts know that empowering colleagues through their expertise can benefit both the team and the organization. People who share the same knowledge can work together more effectively and produce better results.

If you need support developing your expert power, contact BetterUp today . One of our expert coaches will be happy to help you.

Maggie Wooll

Maggie Wooll is a researcher, author, and speaker focused on the evolving future of work. Formerly the lead researcher at the Deloitte Center for the Edge, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Maggie is passionate about creating better work and greater opportunities for all.

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• What Is Expert Power?...

What Is Expert Power? Explanation and Example

13 min read · Updated on July 17, 2023

Developing your own expert power can be a great way to further your career

Whether you're in a leadership position at your company or simply a valued team member, it's important to understand the important role that power plays in an organization. Moreover, you need to understand the various ways that people use power. For example, some exercise power through coercion and fear, while others use rewards and positive encouragement. Some rely on traditional power structures for their authority, even as others earn spheres of influence based on their expertise, or expert power.

In this post, we'll explore the concept of expert power and examine its importance in any workplace environment. We'll also consider its potential benefits and limitations and offer some tips you can use to develop your own expert power.

What is expert power?

Unlike positional power, which is derived from job titles and hierarchical structures, expert power is a form of personal power that can be acquired by being the best at what you do. This type of power is entirely based on your knowledge and expertise and can be wielded by even low-level employees. The key is to have expertise that others lack, while possessing the ability and willingness to employ that knowledge in ways that benefit those around you.

When you have expert power, others will turn to you for advice or assistance on matters related to your area of expertise. They'll respect your knowledge and value your skills and insights. In addition, leaders in the company will be more likely to give you greater responsibility and seek out your help for any challenges that require your expertise.

It's also important to understand that true expert power comes from actual expertise rather than a position of authority. While many employees automatically assume that managers and  leaders possess more expertise than their subordinates, that is not always true. Your manager may hold power by virtue of position and yet still need to rely on subordinates' expertise in various areas of the job.

Examples of expert power

Expert power can be found in a variety of work environments across virtually all industries. To see just how important this type of power can be, consider the examples of expertise-based power listed below.

Employees with technical expertise

As technology has advanced in recent decades, people with specific technological prowess are in greater demand than ever before. Employees who develop expertise with various software, hardware, and networking technology often accumulate expert power in settings where they are more knowledgeable than their peers. That expertise enables them to acquire influence and may ensure that others seek out their input for problem-solving, decision-making, and new tech-based projects.

Medical professionals

Obviously, people with formal medical training are considered experts in their field. That expertise gives them the credibility they need to ensure that patients follow their medical guidance. Doctors with even more specialized training can amass even greater expert power, as general practitioners rely on them for advanced diagnosis and treatment options.

Lawyers and other legal professionals

Like doctors and nurses, legal professionals need to acquire a great deal of specialized knowledge and insight to practice their craft. This expertise is relied upon by other lawyers and judges, as well as individual and corporate clients. As they provide legal counsel to their clients, courts, and even political bodies, these attorneys can have a powerful influence on individuals, companies, and public policy.

Financial professionals

Financial experts are another great example of this type of expertise-based power. Accountants, wealth management professionals, and Financial Advisors all provide specific, specialized counsel to their clients and employers. When non-experts need financial advice, they tend to defer to these professionals to ensure that they make the best possible decisions.

Leaders with specialized knowledge

Business owners, managers, and other leaders can also wield expert power when they have specialized knowledge about certain areas of business. For example, a business owner who developed a better way to build a mousetrap would clearly have expert power that would earn their employees' respect. A manager with specific and unique technology skills would be in a similar position of expert power.

Of course, these managers and leaders would also possess clear positional power, but that added expert power can offer another avenue of influence as they seek to lead and motivate their teams. Top leaders who can influence their employees through the sharing of knowledge, rather than through other forms of power, can often develop a more positive and collaborative work culture.

How can expert power benefit your team?

While expert power may be simple to understand from a conceptual standpoint, its importance in the workplace may be less clear. So, why is expertise-based power so invaluable? To answer that question, we need to consider several key benefits that you, your team, and your company can enjoy when this type of power dynamic is present.

Another path to career advancement

There is something to be said for making yourself an invaluable asset in your company. When you have specific skills and knowledge that no one else possesses, others will recognize your expertise and your sphere of influence can increase. Over time, that increase in influence translates into real perceived power that you can leverage for increased responsibility, promotions, and other benefits. If you continue to build your knowledge base or expand your in-demand skills, that power is likely to continue to increase.

Enhanced motivation at team level

Expertise has its own way of inspiring others on your team to achieve more than they otherwise might. When your colleagues believe that you're an expert that they can rely on to help the team overcome any challenge, that confidence can motivate them to push their own boundaries. Their trust in your abilities and your willingness to help them to overcome obstacles can be an empowering influence that elevates your team's productivity and performance to new heights.

Potential for others to gain expertise

Expert power can empower those around you by inspiring them to gain their own advanced skills sets and areas of expertise. This form of leading by example can motivate your colleagues to become experts in specific areas, as they model your behavior of personal and professional development. This can help to contribute to a culture of knowledge and expertise in your workplace, strengthen your entire  team , and provide a host of benefits to the company.

Development of a leadership culture throughout your organization

People naturally turn to experts for advice and assistance, which can help to push those experts into informal leadership roles. As an expert, you will invariably develop and hone certain leadership skills as you assist others and use your knowledge to lead them to the right answers to their questions. On a company-wide level, the development of an expert culture can help to create a new and powerful leadership culture as well.

Limitations of expert power

Since expert power comes from you having knowledge and skills that no one else possesses, there are some obvious limitations that may present themselves over time. By recognizing these potential weaknesses in this type of power, you can work to counter their impact and prevent any loss in your expertise and effectiveness. Below are some of the most common downsides to this type of power.

It can stifle decision-making if used improperly

When others are consistently turning to you for advice and decision-making, there is always the potential for you to lose sight of other perspectives. While it's important to recognize the value of your own knowledge, skills, and opinions, it's also vital that you continue to be open to other points of view. This potential downside is less of a risk when your power is exclusively tied to your expertise and the ultimate decisions are made by managers or other higher-ups. However, when you're in a position of authority and also wield expert power, there's an increased risk that you'll lose sight of other potential solutions and points of view.

Expertise needs to be maintained

No matter your area of expertise, it will diminish over time if you fail to continue to learn and increase your knowledge base and skills. The problem is that human knowledge is constantly increasing and you need to keep pace with those advancements if you want to maintain your expert power. In addition, there's always the potential that others in your company may gain their own expertise and thus reduce your power, or that new employees with similar expertise may be hired.

Shared knowledge can cause a loss of expert power

As an expert, your colleagues and superiors will naturally expect you to share at least some of your expertise with the team. As you do so, you will be directly enhancing others' level of expertise. For example, if you're the only one on your team who understands how to perform a certain set of tasks, your expert power will diminish as you teach others what you know. If your role requires you to share your expertise, you will need to continue to expand your field of knowledge if you want to maintain the same levels of expertise-based power and influence.

Some coworkers may be resistant to relying on experts

Ego can also present challenges in any expert-driven work environment. Unfortunately, some people who lack expertise of their own may feel resentment when they are forced to rely on an expert to get things done. That resentment can disrupt team harmony, and even impact productivity, due to unaddressed personality  conflicts . Anyone wielding expert power needs to be aware of this potential problem, so that they can focus on presenting their expertise in a non-threatening and humble way.

How to boost your own expert power

Whether you're a leader or an entry-level employee, it's possible to boost your own expert power. However, that won't happen overnight or by accident. Instead, you'll need to ensure that you work on increasing your knowledge base while cultivating an array of critical interpersonal skills. The following tips can help:

1.      Select your area of interest

Before you can gain expertise and develop expert power, you first need to identify the area of interest that you want to study. Obviously, no one can become an expert on all things, so you'll need to be selective about which aspect of your job and industry you want to focus on. If possible, try to select an area of expertise that meets an existing need in your company or industry.

2.      Start to build expertise

Once you've identified your area of interest, you'll need to devote both time and effort to gaining knowledge and building skills that will create real expertise. There are a number of options you can use to learn this information and become the expert you want to be, including:

Continuing education classes, either in-person or online

Participating in workshops related to your field of interest

Attending conferences

Getting  hands-on training from another expert

Staying up to date on trends and advancements in your industry

3.      Work on your communication skills

Expert power is useless if you don't know how to convey your expertise to others or use your knowledge to assist them. You will need to build effective communication skills to ensure that you're able to express yourself and pass on ideas and information to those who need it. Practice both verbal and written communications, as well as the key  active listening skills you'll need to engage in effective interpersonal exchanges of information.

4.      Become a problem-solver

Of course, your expertise will only be truly valuable if it can be used to overcome challenges and solve problems. When someone comes to you for expert advice or assistance, you need to be able to help them solve their issues. To learn more about critical problem-solving skills, check out our post,  How to List Problem-Solving Skills on a Resume .

5.      Be willing to share knowledge

You also need to know how to share your expertise with others. While you might be tempted to hoard your knowledge and force others to rely on your expertise, that path almost always leads to resentment and other interpersonal conflicts. You should be eager to share your insights, technical expertise, and guidance with your coworkers, managers, and subordinates.

6.      Remain humble

Never use your expertise as a weapon. Instead, remain humble and open to others' ideas and opinions. This is an important part of the expertise-building process, since it can help you to build trust with everyone on your team and ensure that others feel comfortable relying on you. If you're arrogant or manipulative, you'll end up with diminished power since no one will turn to you for help.

7.      Learn how to lead by example

As you develop your expertise, you need to also focus on being reliable, supportive, and accountable to others. This flexible and collaborative approach will help to ensure that you're leading others by setting a positive example that encourages them to become more knowledgeable. They may be so inspired by your commitment to learning that they adopt the same mindset.

8.      Commit to lifelong learning

As you might have guessed, commitment to learning needs to be ongoing. Since shared expertise can mean a loss in expert power, you'll need to continually focus on learning new things and advancing your skills. This can help to ensure that you remain on the cutting edge of knowledge in your field, while simultaneously maintaining your expertise and expert power. If you fail to continually learn and improve your skills, you'll see that power diminish over time.

9.      Network

One way to maintain your competitive edge is to focus on expanding and deepening your professional network. There's always someone who knows more about your field of expertise than you do and you should be eager to connect and learn from them. Take time to identify the experts in your industry and connect with influential people who can help to guide you and offer new insights and direction. Building up your network can also be an important way to boost your own credibility and make you more visible as an expert in your own right.

Develop your expert power to advance your career!

Power that is based on expertise is one of the few types of power available to workers at every level of an organization. Even entry-level employees can enjoy this type of expert power if they have specific knowledge and skills that others lack. By learning how to develop your own expertise, you too can begin to enjoy this kind of expanded influence and expedite your career advancement.

Does your resume convey your expertise in a convincing way? Get a  free resume review from our TopResume team today to ensure that your resume makes the right impression!

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