What Makes An Expert In The Future Societal Norms?
Over the past year while I have been researching for my MSc I have been considering what truly makes an expert.
If you ask yourself the question now – what comes to mind?
- Is it qualifications gained through hours of study?
- Is it 10,000 hours of practicing a musical instrument or a specific sport?
- Is it the type of practice you do?
- Is it your mindset?
- Is it your attitude?
- Is it the intervention and enthusiasm of your parents to push you when you were younger?
- Is it when you were born in the year?
- Is it where you live?
- Where you born with some sort of innate talent or giftedness?
This list of potential reasons is only just the start to consider the answer to this question. Generally someone or something will state that you are an expert in something or have expertise.
So, What are you an expert in? (hold that thought)
If I consider myself for a moment. I’m 41 years old for reference.
I hold various academic achievements, I am a trained musician, I am a Mum, a Wife, skilled in building Strategic Partnerships, a qualified Business Coach, a Sister, a Friend – actually the list could go on and on…but my point is – I have had to learn all this roles and do some sort of activity to understand and be successful in the societal norms in which we live. I am not an expert in all these topics of course – but a couple of them I would say I have great expertise.
However, the societal norms are shifting daily for us all.
6 weeks ago, who had heard of Furlough? Who knew what the Covid-19 meant? Who didn’t know how to use Zoom or MS Teams? Who’s learnt to make scones for VE day? Who’s realised they are great at teaching children at home? Who’s tried something new and learnt they are actually quite good at it?
We currently have a window of opportunity where most things that we know are changing – including what we might choose to develop expertise in.
Change brings opportunity and opportunity brings change.
Carol Dweck talks about the Growth Mindset where intelligence can be developed. The belief is that you embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, embrace criticism, learn from others – which results in higher levels of achievements – and from my perspective expertise too.
So how are you going to embrace these changing times and build your expertise embracing a Growth Mindset?
I for one have decided to re-build my expertise in playing the saxophone – I used to ‘brilliant’ (my Mums words to me) and try out playing at some gigs again – something which will be way out of comfort zone compared to when I was 18 – however it is something I want to do.
What ever you are NOT an expert in currently – we have an opportunity that (hopefully) won’t come around again in our lifetimes to re-write our own and societal norms; while spending time developing our expertise in whatever we choose to do.
Whatever the societal norms believe expertise to be in the future, one thing remains for certain - us at individuals remain at the heart to our own expertise and achievement.
Enjoy the journey.
Charlotte