Working in your domain for a considerable amount of time calls for handling pressuring situations, analytical decision making, leadership, and performance. However, while climbing up the ladder, every individual is exposed to a bubble that has been known to consume the best of industry minds: ‘Expertise’.
Although you have gained a substantial exposure of clients from multiple domains and their subsequent crisis situations, posing yourself as an intellectual expert hampers growth, stagnates ideas, and voids you of the market dynamics. That said, here are a few practices you can inculcate to avoid such a scenario and maintain what is called a ’beginner’s mindset’
Constantly challenge ‘Expertise’
Ego fuels expertise. For most of the times, modesty and sense of learning develop the blinders of ego, pride, and a know-it-all attitude. Vocalizing your ideas is a good practice, but doing so at the cost of listening to your team and being ignorant to other’s ideas is not justified.
To test the waters of your ‘expertise’, revisit your ideas and plan of action in a strategic manner. Analyze the use of facts and assumptions that contributed to the ideation and observe their validity in accordance to the required results.
Experiments are never “too old”
Have an eagle view on the market and break down the strategy adopted by other companies. Being a subject matter expert, it is imperative that you observe and embrace the new innovations in the market so as to inculcate themselves in the near future with a spin of your own mind.
More importantly, acknowledge and learn from your mistakes. Hold dedicated meetings where you critically analyze what went wrong and how can it be done better. Remember, a wise person does new mistakes while other people keep repeating the old ones.
Fresh ideas
Undoubtedly you have a fair experience in your domain, but each mind thinks differently. Imbibe a practice of conducting brainstorm sessions with your teammates and treat them as teachers. Throw in case studies, discuss a client in depth, or put forward a hypothetical scenario and observe their inputs.
Having people around you who think differently exposes you to a different analytical approach. Practicing this on a regular basis not only increases the quotient of unique ideas, but further helps in creating a conducive, learning environment for the entire team.
So, the next time you feel trapped in the shell of expertise, remember these pointers to escape the block!
