What is Expert Power, and How Can You Develop It?

It can be said that expert power is a force to be reckoned with because having it gives you the power to not only excel in your career but also inspire others with your knowledge. When you have specialized skills and experience, you gain the trust and respect of colleagues. However, as the wise Uncle Ben from Spiderman reminds us, with great power comes great responsibility.

There are many power dynamics in the corporate world, and some of those get abused for personal gain. When you’re standing at the intersection of using your expert power at work, you must decide whether you’ll transcend the temptations of self-interest in favor of what’s best for the company and your peers.

Expert power sounds great, doesn’t it? But what exactly is expert power, and how can you develop it? Fortunately, it is something that pretty much everyone can ascend to. Keep reading to find out how.

Expert power defined

Strictly speaking, expert power is a form of influence that comes from your specialized knowledge, skills, and aptitude in a field. When people consider you an expert, they look up to you, emulate you, and seek you out for guidance. Possessing expert power gives you an air of credibility and causes people to rely on you as a trusted source of information.

Anyone who spends any amount of time in a particular field will develop expertise in things like industry trends and best practices. After years of experience and a track record of successfully applying knowledge to real-world situations, you gain the credibility of someone who knows what they’re doing – you are the person who makes things happen, the one who gets results.

Leadership and authority

Most people aspire to turn their experience and expertise into leadership roles. That is the natural course of most people’s career lives. Sometimes, people are thrust into leadership positions without the requisite expert power, but those are often token supervisory positions without any real decision-making authority. Leaders who possess expert power are better equipped to guide their teams and companies to operational success.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that only someone in a leadership role can have expert power, though. The great thing about being an expert at something is that it goes beyond formal titles and hierarchical structures. You can be considered an expert even if your job is an entry-level position.

Expert power vs. other forms of power

The basic definition of expert power is the ability to direct change or influence behavior. Of course, that simplified definition lends itself to the notion that there are many types of power. In the late 1950s, a couple of social psychologists, John French and Bertram Raven, got together to research the notion of power and how it’s used by individuals, companies, and governments. They postulated the existence of five social powers; those five examples of power are:

Reward power: As you can guess, reward power is designed to influence others through the use of positive reinforcement – rewards.
Coercive power: Conversely, coercive power uses the threat of punishment to induce compliance or deter unwanted behavior.
Legitimate power: This is sometimes called positional power in that it comes from someone’s corporate or government rank. The higher you sit on the hierarchy chart, the more people will be influenced by what you say and do.
Referent power: If people consider you charming or charismatic, you have the ability to influence or guide them through referent power.
Expert power: Among the forms of power, expert power is the one that commands respect through knowledge and skills.

Is expert power the same thing as authority?

Out of all the forms of power that you just learned about, wondering whether expert power is the same as having authority is a natural question. The short answer is “No.” As we mentioned, someone in an entry-level position can claim expert power if they have specialized knowledge about something. The litmus test lies in the source of influence. If you’re influencing people based on things you know, then it’s expert power. On the other hand, if you’re influencing people because you have a particular title behind your name, then that’s authority.

Let’s simplify the difference between authority and expert power:

Expert Power:

Source: Specialized knowledge and expertise
Influence: Credibility and competence
Role: Respect and trust

Authority

Source: Formal position or title
Influence: Enforcing rules
Role: Organizational structure

For better, but not for worse

Possessing expert power gives you immense potential for making a positive impact; however, as with anything in life, there are those who would abuse this power. Improperly using expert power can have dire consequences, not only for the one wielding it irresponsibly but for those in its wake. Here are some common misuses of expert power:

Self-promotion: Some people only want what’s best for themselves and use expert power to gain recognition without any concern for others. This type of self-centered approach often erodes trust and can break down the overall morale of a team.
Selecting information sharing: As you share your knowledge with others, it stands to reason that it’s possible the people learning from you will become experts, too. Some people will intentionally withhold information so they maintain the upper hand and remain superior to others.
Overriding diverse perspectives: Some experts refuse to listen to others, thinking their own knowledge is the only thing that makes sense. Disregarding the amalgamation of diverse perspectives in the workplace stifles innovation and limits growth.
Unethical decision-making: When personal interests and biases take precedence over the greater good, you step into the realm of unethical decision-making. It’s akin to self-promotion above, where self-centeredness is king.

The best way to balance expert power and prevent its abuse is to maintain a broader sense of responsibility and harness the power for positive outcomes for all. You can do this through:

Collaboration
Transparency
Honesty
Continual learning
Ethics
Integrity

How to develop expert power

Now that you know what expert power is, you’ve decided that you want it. Luckily, It’s not one of those things that people are born with, it can be cultivated and enhanced over time. Here are some steps you can take to get and strengthen expert power:

Skill development: You should never stop learning if you want to maintain and expand your expertise. By staying up-to-date with industry trends, acquiring new skills, and honing existing ones, you demonstrate a dedication to excellence.
Build a strong professional network: Networking is a vital aspect of expert power. Connect with peers, mentors, and industry leaders to exchange insights and experiences. A robust professional network not only enhances your knowledge base but also boosts your credibility and influence.
Share knowledge and mentor: They say if you can teach something, then you must know it really well. Sharing your knowledge with others, whether through mentoring, workshops, or presentations, solidifies your position as an expert. Act as a resource to colleagues, helping them grow and develop their skills. This not only benefits them but also reinforces your expert status.

Credibility and reputation

As you go through your career, remember that credibility and your reputation as a trustworthy and knowledgeable professional are among your most valuable assets. Not only will you attract good opportunities, but you’ll also encourage others to seek your guidance, solidifying your expert power.

What are some expert power examples?

There may be times when you are unsure about how to use your expert power. In that case, it’s helpful to have some real-world examples that highlight how other expert leaders leveraged their power. There’s always someone to look up to, right?

Steve Jobs: This man’s ability to lead the multinational conglomerate stemmed not only from visionary ideas but from a deep understanding of the products he championed. He was an expert in technology and design and brought electronics products to market that are the cornerstone of hundreds of thousands of people’s lives.
Gordon Ramsay: If ever an expert chef lived, it’s Gordon Ramsay. Yes, he owns and operates numerous successful restaurants worldwide, but his expert power is utilized to help other restaurant owners succeed. On top of that, he influences people of all ages to step into the kitchen and become aspiring chefs.
Warren Buffet: You don’t have to be a part of the finance and investment community to know the name Warren Buffet. He stands out as the epitome of expert power with a career spanning decades and is known for inspiring others through letters that are considered the gospel by investors worldwide.

Shining light of influence

There are so many other people who use their expert power for good. The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to be the next Tim Cook or Jane Goodall to leverage expert power. As long as you’re using your influence to make a positive impact on those around you and nurturing your expert power, you’ll leave a well-defined legacy of success and impact.

As your career progresses, make sure your resume properly reflects your expertise. ZipJob’s professional resume writers can help!