Home Talent Management Professional Development Expert Power: How To Cultivate It in Your Organization Expert Power: How To Cultivate It in Your Organization CoachHub · 18 October 2022 · 4 min read What is expert power? Expert power refers to the power acquired by one’s unique skills and abilities. An individual with expert power is assumed to have a higher level of knowledge and experience and so, has greater influence over others. Having a formal leadership position or managerial title does not guarantee expert power, nor does it mean you are in a leadership position. Any employee that has specialized skills that no other employee possesses has expert power. The key to attaining it is being the only employee offering an organization a particular skill. APA Dictionary of Psychology defines expert power as “a capacity to influence others that is based on the assumption that the influencer is highly skilled”. Content What is expert power? Why is expert power important? How to cultivate expert power within your organization How to develop expert power personally Why is expert power important? Expert power usually stems from hard work and sacrifice. When this type of power is prominent in the workplace there is an organic culture of respect and cooperation between employees on all levels. It is a legitimate form of power that is ethically acquired and naturally commands respect. Employees are inspired to work hard by the achievements of the experts rather than being controlled by fear of punishment as seen with other forms of power such as coercive power. Expert power was first defined in French and Raven’s 1959 paper ‘The Bases of Social Power’. The paper claims that “the more legitimate the coercion the less it will produce resistance and decreased attraction”. Developing experts in your organization fuels a positive power structure that is driven by ethical and highly skilled individuals. Benefits of expert power Ethical method of power acquisition Employees are more open to direction from experts Opens employees up to better opportunities More efficient decision making Unique insights into problems The workforce has a competitive advantage Employees learn from the unique skills and experience of experts Drawbacks of expert power Experts may fear the loss of power should they share their knowledge May result in knowledge hiding Respect and power diminish if other employees upskill Innovation will suffer over time if knowledge is not shared Experts must constantly develop their skills and ensure they are the only Driving growth and impact with coaching Check out our free ebook Get the ebook How to cultivate expert power within your organization Attract the right talent Attracting good talent will contribute to the level of expertise within the organization. The recruitment department must be on board with the company’s intentions to develop expert power. Training recruitment teams to recognize experts or potential experts and offering incentivizing packages will increase the number of experts you attract into your organization. Develop existing talent Invest in your employee’s learning and development with training courses and educational grants. Not only will this increase engagement, motivation and retention, but will also develop the talents of existing employees to eventually reach expert status. Offering a digital coaching program is also an excellent way to accelerate the development of experts in your organization. A coach can help employees identify areas to specialize in, set objectives and guide their development toward ethically attaining expert power. Retain experts Know who the experts are within the organization and invest in them. It is vital to retain the experts that are already present. Experts are constantly learning so invest in their education and training and offer them coaching programs to increase their company loyalty. Leadership and Skills Development Programs Advance and support employees across the enterprise. Discover the program How to develop expert power personally Define your practice What exactly do you want to be an expert in? The first step is to clarify what area or practice you want to specialize in. Evaluate your strengths, have a clear understanding of your industry and know the skill gap in the workforce. Make an informed and well-thought-out decision and devote your focus to this area. Working with an experienced coach can help you highlight your objectives and define a path to becoming an expert. Improve skills and education Once you have defined your area of expertise you must begin to acquire the expert-level skills and knowledge necessary to attain expert power. Invest in courses, read the material and work with a coach to keep you on track. The key is gaining the skills that nobody else can offer so focus on developing the skills that nobody within your organization has. Learn from existing experts Study your industry and identify existing experts. Understand how they reached their level of expertise and learn from their experience. Finding a coach that specializes in coaching experts in your field can be very beneficial. Cultivate an expert reputation Begin to create an image of an expert within your team. Be proactive in problem-solving and decision-making. Offer yourself as a mentor and volunteer for any training opportunities. Remain calm in a crisis and confident in your abilities. Be willing to help others, maintain credibility and give expert advice to your teammates. Always be learning Becoming an expert in any field is a continuous commitment and a life-long journey. You must constantly stay informed on industry changes and changes within your organization to ensure you maintain your ‘expert edge’. Develop a continuous practice of learning and upskilling. In conclusion Expert power is a valuable asset to any organization. This type of power inspires employees to reach a high level of skill and knowledge while ensuring that power structures are legitimate and ethically earned. Knowledge hiding may become common but this can be eased by providing security and increasing the personal power of your experts. Coaching can play a vital role in nurturing your employees to reach expert-level status. Providing a consistent coaching program retains talented employees and accelerates the growth of their expert power. Share Cathy Stapleton Cathy is an Irish writer based in Berlin, Germany who is passionate about using words to inspire growth. As a certified mindfulness facilitator and performance coach, Cathy aims to create work that helps people connect with themselves and heighten their awareness. When she is not writing she is usually running in nature, meditating or contemplating an existential crisis. Share Discover our categories Corporate Culture Professional Coaching Talent Management Workplace Wellness Read more about:Talent management Attract Talent The 30-60-90 Day Plan: Your Key to Effective Onboarding Merit Increases: What Every Employer and Employee Should Know Transferable Skills: What To Look For When Hiring Talent and Workforce Transformation Talent Acquisition: How To Attract New Talent in 2023 Employer Brand 4 Steps to Utilize Employees to Improve Your Employer Brand Complete Guide to Employer Branding with Strategies from Top Brands Employer Branding Strategy in Five Achievable Steps HPI: High intellectual potential Why High Potential Employees are Some of Your Company’s Best Assets A Guide on Identifying and Developing Your High Potential Employees Professional development The Ultimate Blueprint for Writing a Successful Performance Improvement Plan National Leadership Day: Reflecting on Our Untapped Potential To Lead Self-Serving Bias: Examining its Effects on Workplace Dynamics Flow State for Beginners: How to Get Started and Make It a Habit Negative Reinforcement: Exploring the Ethical Considerations in the Workplace Professional mobility Behavioral Interviewing: How to use the STAR Method The 13 Benefits of Networking and How to Do It Right Job Security: The Benefits for Employees and Employers Frictional Unemployment: Everything You Need To Know Career Trajectory: What It Is, the Different Types & Why It Matters The model DISC Type A Personalities and the Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Teams Leveraging the DISC Model for Talent Management Strategy DISC vs MBTI: Which Should Your Company Choose? Unlocking Employee Potential with DISC Assessments Last Articles Work-Life Balance for the Sandwich Generation: Strategies for Employers The Cost of Quid Pro Quo: Why It’s Time to Rethink This Approach to Workplace Performance 4 Ways to Support Women Leaders Before and After Maternity Leave Client success stories Coca Cola supports its workforce with digital coaching Watch Now What to read next By CoachHub 22 March 2023 Work-Life Balance for the Sandwich Generation: Strategies for Employers Find Out More By CoachHub 20 March 2023 The Cost of Quid Pro Quo: Why It’s Time to Rethink This Approach to Workplace Performance Find Out More By CoachHub 15 March 2023 4 Ways to Support Women Leaders Before and After Maternity Leave Find Out More Want to learn how CoachHub can work for your business? Request a demo now to learn more about the CoachHub digital coaching platform. Request demo