Are you whipped up for the challenge?

In the pre-pandemic days I used to challenge myself with “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) sessions. Believe me, there were times I wondered why on earth I did them, but in almost every case I emerged self-respecting, and the attendees told me they were greatly enriched.

Once or twice I was caught flat-footed with no idea how to answer a question but promised I would research it and report back. Which I did.

Often I was asked the same questions over and over again, like “is buying a LinkedIn subscription worthwhile?” “How do I say no to a connection request?” etc.

I always answered the questions based on my experience and made sure to ladle on a dollop of brand marketing savvy for the audience. After all, my answer is only as good as the benefit of experience you can actually apply with your new-found knowledge.

So I always felt mildly nervous in starting my AMAs and after awhile I found I was able to roll with the energy in the room. So much so that I have continued them weekly for a private group, and as LinkedIn changes and the sophistication of the attendees increases, I still find I am on top of my game.

How do you demonstrate being on top of yours?

Do you write, speak, teach, video, and how do you demonstrate your expertise?

We all have to be expert in something and showing it is a personal choice: not whether, but how, to do so.