For a long time, authority in expert fields was defined almost exclusively by knowledge. What you knew. How deep your expertise was. How precisely you could argue a case.

In IP, this focus is deeply ingrained. And rightly so. Technical excellence and legal precision are non-negotiable.

But something has shifted. Today, authority is no longer built on what you know alone, but on how others experience you when they work with you. Especially in a world where AI systems can deliver faster answers, generate drafts, and analyse data at scale, the human side of expertise has become a decisive differentiator.

Clients, colleagues, and partners don’t just choose experts for their answers.
They choose them for orientation, judgment, and trust.

And that’s where confidence, vulnerability, and authenticity come into play.

Authority is not dominance

Many experts confuse authority with certainty. They feel they must always have an answer, always be precise, always appear in control.

But real authority is not about overpowering others with expertise, but instead about creating confidence in uncertain situations.

This becomes particularly visible in emerging areas of IP (think AI-related rights, platform regulation, or new licensing models) where frameworks are evolving and precedents are limited.

An expert who says:

“This area is still developing, but here are the guardrails I would put in place so you don’t make blind decisions,”

often inspires more trust than someone who hides uncertainty behind technical language.

This kind of response:

  • acknowledges complexity without dramatizing it,
  • demonstrates judgment instead of rigid rule-application,
  • and positions the expert as someone who can navigate ambiguity, not just apply existing doctrine.

Being able to hold uncertainty without losing authority is a deeply human skill and one AI cannot replicate.

Confidence without performance

The same dynamic plays out in public or semi-public settings: panels, conferences, internal meetings, or expert roundtables.

Many IP experts feel pressure to prove competence in these moments, especially in front of peers. The result is often long explanations, careful hedging, or an overload of detail.

But the experts who are remembered do more. Instead of explaining everything, they frame the issue.

An expert who says:

“What I see repeatedly is that the legal question is rarely the real bottleneck. The real issue is timing and decision ownership,”

creates instant orientation for the audience.

They don’t dominate the discussion, don’t simplify irresponsibly, but offer a lens others can think with.

This is confidence without performance and authority without dominance.

And over time, this is how experts become reference points, not because they speak the most, but because their framing travels beyond the room.

Vulnerability as a credibility amplifier

Vulnerability is often misunderstood as oversharing or insecurity. In reality, professional vulnerability is about transparency of thinking, not emotion.

It can sound like:

  • “Here’s what we know and what we still need to watch closely.”
  • “This is the risk I see, and this is how I’d approach it pragmatically.”
  • “There are trade-offs here, and none of them are trivial.”

Such statements don’t weaken authority.
They strengthen it, because they show intellectual honesty and respect for the other side’s responsibility.

In complex advisory relationships, trust grows when clients feel that an expert is not performing certainty but offering judgment.

From expertise to partnership

This is where the human side of authority becomes tangible.

Experts who consistently combine:

  • confidence in their expertise,
  • openness about complexity,
  • and genuine interest in the other side’s context

are no longer perceived as “external specialists.” They become partners because they make others feel more capable of deciding.

This shift is subtle, but powerful. It changes how early you’re involved, how much influence you have, and how often your name is mentioned when important decisions are made.

Personal branding happens in these moments

Personal branding is often associated with visibility, content, or platforms.
But in reality, it is built in everyday interactions:

  • how you explain a risk in a meeting,
  • how you frame uncertainty on a panel,
  • how you respond when you don’t yet have a definitive answer.

Over time, these moments shape a very clear perception:
This is someone I trust when things get complex.

That perception is the strongest form of authority.

Final thought

In the age of AI, expertise alone is no longer enough to differentiate.
What differentiates human experts is how they show up when expertise meets uncertainty.

Authority today is not about being untouchable. It’s about being reliable, clear, and human.

And that balance, between confidence, vulnerability, and authenticity, is what turns experts into trusted partners.

Until then, a question to reflect on:
👉 In which situations do you feel pressure to prove your expertise, when it might be more effective to guide, frame, or invite understanding?

If you’d like to explore how your expert presence can become more human, credible, and influential (online and offline) I’m happy to support you.

About the columnist

Giulia Donato
Branding & Communication Advisor | Executive Coach | Lecturer
people & brand strategies
www.donatostrategies.com