Karin’s Leadership Articles

One Surprising Secret to Being Respected as an Expert

One Surprising Secret to Being Respected as an Expert

by | May 23, 2019 | By Karin Hurt, Winning Well |

I was having dinner with a group of senior leaders after a strategic executive offsite. So naturally, the conversation turned to … octopus hunting. Apparently, Carlos, the senior leader sitting across from me was an expert.

He described his technique in intricate detail. I listened in amazement. In all the times I’ve gone scuba diving looking for Octopi, I’ve only seen one of these eight-legged guys (and the only capturing I did was in the photo above).  And here he was bringing home nine or more at a time.

He smiled, “Karin, you can’t see them because you aren’t an expert.” Fair enough.

The Most Effective Way to Show Up as the Expert

But as his story continued, I realized Carlos’ true expertise was how he used it.

We like to hunt as a family. My Dad doesn’t see them as easily as he once did. So when I spot one I linger around it, to draw my Dad’s attention there. But don’t mention the octupus. Then he sees it, and comes back to the family with all the stories of the one Carlos almost missed.

My son is still learning so I find some in the smaller crevices and tell him I can’t possibly get my hands in there, and let him be the hero at dinner because he got the really hard ones.

Carlos gets the results he needs. Enough octopi for his hungry family waiting at home to cook them. He has fun with the people he loves. And everyone surfaces feeling a bit better about their contribution. Winning Well, confident humility at it’s finest.

Above the Surface

The next day, I watched Carlos again when he was handed the mic to talk about leadership characteristics as part of a panel discussion. He spoke in detail about each of his peers sitting beside him, sharing exactly what he admired about them as leaders—most of them he’d only been working with a short while from a remote distance. I watched their faces as he spoke. He clearly nailed characteristics they were truly proud of.

The best experts don’t need to tell you they are, they show you. They encourage, develop, and recognize the expertise in others.

BONUS How to Hunt an Octopus

In case you didn’t know Octopus hunting was a thing either, here you go.

 

Want more human-centered leaders in the workplace? Share this today!

Want more human-centered leaders in the workplace? Share this today?

2 Comments
  1. Hamilton Lindley

    Thank you for this great story about showing leadership characteristics. Complimenting others shows, humility, compassion, and that you’ve been paying attention. The octopus hunter story is something I’m going to remember for a long time. Thank you, Karin.

    Reply
    • Karin Hurt

      Thanks so much, Hamilton. I’m glad it resonated with you. So nice to see you here.

      Reply

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Karin Hurt

Karin Hurt helps human-centered leaders find clarity in uncertainty, drive innovation, and achieve breakthrough results.  She’s the founder and CEO of Let’s Grow Leaders, an international leadership development and training firm known for practical tools and leadership development programs that stick. She’s the award-winning author of four books including Courageous Cultures: How to Build Teams of Micro-Innovators, Problem Solvers, and Customer Advocates and Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict, and hosts the popular Asking For a Friend Vlog on LinkedIn. A former Verizon Wireless executive, Karin was named to Inc. Magazine’s list of great leadership speakers. Karin and her husband and business partner, David Dye, are committed to their philanthropic initiative, Winning Wells – building clean water wells for the people of Cambodia.

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7 Practical Ways to be a Bit More Daring

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