You Don’t Have to Be The Expert
The best experts are lifelong learners who know just enough to know they don’t know that much.
Experts have their field of study or job occupation figured out. They have the answer to every question and the solution for every problem. Experts build bridges that connect cities, warn us about climate/weather changes, provide wisdom for our spiritual lives, and help heal us when we’re sick.
But the best experts are no experts at all. They’re dedicated people who combine their knowledge, skills, and experience with a desire to approach every problem as an opportunity to learn something new. The best experts are lifelong learners who know just enough to know they don’t know that much.
I have to confess I struggle to find this balance. As a younger African American coach, I’ve felt I have to prove my worth out of twofold concerns. I often carry the insecurities of believing that athletes and colleagues are just waiting to pounce on my lack of experience. Sometimes I feel like I’m just waiting on someone to figure out my inexperience. And with that, I sense I’m just one mistake away from letting down my ancestors who marched, protested, and voiced their demands for equality so that men and women like myself can take advantage of leadership opportunities.
So I constantly feel like I have to be “on”—that I need to be the expert and to succeed at everything I do. I guess you could call these irrational fears imposter syndrome.
But what helps keep me grounded is anchoring in two essential truths. One truth is that I am enough. My experiences, skills, and imperfect strivings are the reason I am where I am today. It’s also because of the countless people—friends, family, colleagues, and mentors—who’ve helped me get where I am today. Since I’ve had to learn through experiences and depended on others to be where I am today, I was never an “expert,” and I don’t have to start being one now.
The second truth is that I don’t have to have the answer to every problem. It’s okay to seek help and admit when I am wrong because I am human. I have limitations. I learned long ago from my mother that humility is the key to success because it creates the space to be free.
Think about how freeing it is to admit your ignorance in a place of leadership. For most people, this is their worst nightmare. But being an expert means seeking wisdom when you know you don’t have it. It’s foolish to fake your expertise, make something up, then have the outcome reveal your ignorance. Pride comes before the fall.
But when you approach a challenging situation with these two truths in mind (you are enough and have limitations), you don’t have to put the world on your back. You can prepare yourself by asking for help, searching for new ideas, and listening to outside opinions. Then you can make the decision you feel is best, prepare for failure, and accept responsibility come what may.
As I heard it said in a rap song several years ago, leaders are the people who are responsible for 100% of their failures and 0% of their successes. Leaders are experts in their limitations and drenched in humility.