Why does calling yourself an “expert” feel uncomfortable?
Efri · 1 min read“Expert” feels uncomfortable because it is both a description and a status claim.
- 1.Unlike saying “I work in product marketing,” saying “I’m a product marketing expert” asks the audience to accept a…
- 2.The word is also vague
- 3.You do not need the label to communicate expertise
- 4.If the label is strategically useful, make it specific enough to be meaningful
Unlike saying “I work in product marketing,” saying “I’m a product marketing expert” asks the audience to accept a judgment about your level of competence. Many people would rather let other people make that judgment for them.
The word is also vague. Expert compared with whom? In which part of the field? Based on years, results, research, credentials or experience?
You do not need the label to communicate expertise. You can describe the work you have done, the problems you solve, the industries you understand, the results you have produced and the ideas you have developed.
If the label is strategically useful, make it specific enough to be meaningful. “I specialize in launch marketing for…” often feels more credible than a generic expert title because it says what the expertise actually covers.