Technical Expertise is possessing depth of knowledge and skill in a technical area.

An employee demonstrating this competency:

• Effectively applies technical knowledge to solve a range of problems
• Possesses an in-depth knowledge and skill in a technical area
• Is able to develop technical solutions to new or highly complex problems that cannot be solved using existing methods or approaches
• Is sought out as an expert, to provide advice or solutions in his/her technical area
• Keeps informed about cutting-edge technology in his/her technical area

A company’s technical knowledge and capability is one its most important and often undervalued resources. Senior individual contributors and many managers need Technical Expertise to make decisions and to perform non-standard technical tasks. As more and more tasks requiring basic technical knowledge become automated, a larger proportion of jobs will require technical problem solving and creativity which depend on Technical Expertise.

Technical Expertise requires some technical training and/or education, together with experience using that training and knowledge in applications developed into work processes and methods. Technical Expertise begins with the ability to perform a limited range of technical tasks. With experience, this ability broadens and deepens, so that more complex, unusual, and difficult problems can be solved. Developing this competency requires reading, attending conferences, and taking technical training courses to keep your technical knowledge current. You must also use that knowledge by attempting new and more challenging technical problems. The two most important ways to develop this competency are self study and working in partnership with someone more technically skilled than yourself.

Take a technical course that will enhance your technical skills in ways that will benefit the business. Read professional journals and other technical publications that will keep your skills current. Volunteer for an assignment that will require you to learn new technical skills. Look for opportunities to work closely with others from whom you can learn new technical skills. Attend professional or industry conferences to learn about technical developments in your technical area. Volunteer to work on a team developing new technical processes. Obtain information about new technology, tools, hardware, and software being used in your technical area.

Prepare a sample of technical work (such as a technical paper, a set of technical recommendations, or a technical tool or process) and ask someone whose technical judgment you respect to critique your work.

Look for opportunities to work closely on technical tasks with people from whom you can learn new technical skills.

If you are coaching someone who is trying to develop the compentency, you can: Provide assignments which will develop this person’s technical skills. Make technical training available. Involve this person in meetings where technical issues will be discussed. Review and provide feedback on this person’s technical work.

By June 1, I will attend one professional conference. By July 1 I will complete a course in Microsoft Access and plan an application to manage competitive product information. I will join the Extrusion Process Reevaluation Team and attend all meetings, beginning November 1.

BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS

Leader Evolution: From Technical Expertise to Strategic Leadership, by Alan Patterson. 200 pages. Business Expert Press, 2014.

Numbers to People: Making the Leap from Technical Expert to Successful Leader, by Davis Woodruff. 166 pages. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2011.

Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise, by Anders Ericsson. 336 pages. Eamon Dolan/Mariner Books, 2017.

Technical Minds: Fundamentals of Dynamic Team Leadership, by Ara Nazarian. 144 pages. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.

The Future Is Faster Than You Think: How Converging Technologies Are Transforming Business, Industries, and Our Lives, by Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler. 384 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2020

The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future, by Kevin Kelly. 336 pages. Viking, 2016.

The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change, by Camille Fournier. 244 pages. O'Reilly Media, 2017.

WORKSHOPS & COURSES - PUBLIC, ONSITE, ONLINE

LinkedIn Learning. Five online courses.
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/search?keywords=applying%20technical%20expertise

Applying Technology. Live and online courses. Coursera.
https://www.coursera.org/search?query=applying+technology&index=prod_all_products_term_optimization

Communication and Interpersonal Skills for Technical Professionals. Two days classroom or online. American Management Association. Tel. 877-566-9441.
https://www.amanet.org/communication-and-interpersonal-skills-for-technical-professionals/

Leadership Skills and Team Development for Technical Professionals. Three days classroom or online. American Management Association. Tel. 877-566-9441.
https://www.amanet.org/leadership-skills-and-team-development-for-technical-professionals/

Mastering the Transition from Technical Expert to Leader. Two days workshop. University of Wisconsin. Tel. 800-462-0876.
https://epd.wisc.edu/courses/mastering-the-transition-from-technical-expert-to-leader/

The Complete Soft Skills Course for Techies. Eight hours on-demand video. Udemy
https://www.udemy.com/course/the-complete-soft-skills-course-for-techies-and-coders/

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
See Appendix