Episode 136 - Are You Perceived as an Expert?
One of the key ways to keep your competency on track is to be a\nlifetime learner. We consider others to be competent when we see\nthem continually learning and advancing their training and\neducation. I can remember going to buy computer products and\ndiscovering that I knew more about the product than the sales reps\ndid (and I didn\u2019t know much). In an attempt to cover up their lack\nof knowledge, these ill-informed salespeople tried to bluff their\nway through my questions. If they had kept themselves educated\nabout the product, the field, and the industry, then they would not\nhave lost my trust in them as competent professionals\u2014and they\nwould not have lost a customer. Learn to become the best in your\nfield. Demonstrate you know your area of expertise. You should know\nmore about your subject than 99 percent of the population.
\n\xa0\nThe following are some\nspecific ways you can gain and strengthen your competence, both\nactual and perceived:\n\xa0
\n- \n
- Degree(s) \n
- Professional standing \n
- Affiliations with respected organizations \n
- Publications \n
- Referrals \n
- Endorsements \n
- Reputation \n
- External surroundings \n
- Definite opinions \n
- Testimonials \n
- Passion \n