The Year of the Expert

Abstract

The personnel and guidance profession is plagued with numerous types of experts who, without attempting to do so, retard the advancement of the profession. The mark of an expert is a person who publicly and unwaveringly proclaims that he has the answers to the problems confronting the profession. Perhaps the most disturbing characteristic of the expert found in the profession today is that he represents his own position as the only “true” one regardless of the issue. It is suggested that all members of the profession adopt a more open and questioning attitude particularly with regard to their own position. Additionally, it seems that the entire profession could benefit from a number of changes. Specifically it is recommended that opinion type articles be labeled as such, that theory be separated from fact, and that a greater attempt be made to redefine the language of the profession operationally.