The journey from novice to expert is not linear.
But there’s a devaluing of expertise in society. Experts are seen as elite, unnecessary and dispensable because information that was once their exclusive province can now be accessed at the click of a mouse. But this is a dangerous misconception Information is not wisdom. And wisdom is what experts provide
Being a Master is more than just conveying what you know. It is a relationship of care. You were as much a mentor and a coach as a teacher. You are taking responsibility for people who come along behind you and you’re contributing to your field. Often you develop a sense of stewardship, a concern for the sustainability of the work you believe in so strongly.
Expert themselves are often the last people to recognise that they are expert at all. They might feel an impostor, constantly wondering when they’re going to be found out. They are astonished that others want to come and learn from them. They may not feel they have achieved ‘Master’ status. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t expert. It just means that becoming an expert is different from having expertise. Often it takes someone else to recognise the distinction.
