Consultant: A person who provides expert advice professionally.

Sometimes that’s all your stakeholders need. It’s another point of view, another set of ears, and someone else to ponder the “what if” and shed some new light on a person, group of people, or situation that needs attention.

Learning and Development (L&D) professionals are not just trainers—they are experts within the craft of adult learning. They bring insight and ideas into the mix. They can look at productivity or lack of productivity objectively. They can offer a consultative approach to some of the most complex situations. So then the question becomes: Why do many L&D professionals not see themselves as consultants?

I would say it has something to do with the definition of a consultant. The definition tells us that a consultant provides “expert” advice. Could the problem be that we don’t see ourselves as experts? What makes an expert anyway? To answer those questions, we need to look at the definition of an expert: a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area. If we weren’t knowledgeable and skilled in the area of learning and development and adult learning concepts, we wouldn’t be trainers, right?

Consider other occupations out there. What makes someone an expert in real estate? One might take classes, get an entry-level job within real estate, network with others in real estate, make connections that turn into clients, and obtain additional certifications in order to move up the real estate ladder. When you commit to something, pour your heart and soul into it, and are passionate about it, you become an expert. You then have to take that expertise and own it. What I mean by own it is to let people know in any way you can. Show them your track record and how what you’ve done in the past proved to be effective and can lead to success in the future.

What Else You Can Do

Here are some other steps you can take to strengthen your expertise:

1. Align yourself with others in the L&D field. This gives you an opportunity to learn from others and compare notes. You can uncover new trends and new activities to try. If you support a specific channel or group as a trainer, reach across to those other aspects of the business that might be able to offer a set of new ideas.
2. Partner with outside organizations. I wanted to see how I could use my learning and development acumen in other arenas outside of my current role. I found that my local Chamber of Commerce had a group called the Talent Coalition. It aims to bring together education and business to develop workforce strategies that fill the largest skills gaps in the region. After joining this group, I found I had a lot of ideas to bring to the table and help bridge the gap between education and the workforce. As a result of getting involved, I was able to offer my training services and expertise in the telecommunications industry to local high school students.
3. Educate yourself. There are tons of Websites, blogs, articles, and Webinars out there to enrich your area of expertise. Find the ones that resonate with you and fit them into your schedule. Information overload can be detrimental, so just stick with the ones that really speak to you and your passion, and then share what you have learned. Many times, I have shared things I’ve learned with anyone who would listen. The secret to catching their interest was my passion behind it.

Be the catalyst of your own expertise. If you ever feel yourself questioning your ability to consult as an expert, take a lesson from this quote by author Marianne Williamson:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?” 

Alaine Carrello is a senior trainer in Learning and Development at Verizon. She has been with Verizon Wireless for more than 20 years and has been in the Learning and Development organization since 2010. Carrello is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Bellevue University with a Bachelor’s degree in Adult Education. Creative writing is her passion and she recently published her first book.