5 Tips to Successfully Managing Subject Matter Experts for Instructional Designers

When developing eLearning courses, one of the most challenging relationships you will ever have will be with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).

In this article, I'll share with you 5 easy ways on how to work closely with SMEs and build a respectful working relationship with them that will facilitate you with a successful development process of your eLearning course materials.

1. Make a Good First Impression

A good impression is half the battle. So make clear from the beginning that while you appreciate your Subject Matter Experts’ contribution, your roles are equally important: they provide the material, and you design it in order to create effective and meaningful eLearning experiences together.

When starting off a project, take the time to discuss with the Subject Matter Expert how you both relate to the project and what are the course goals and learning objectives.

Do not skip these tedious first steps. Stating these things from the beginning will help build familiarity and a more clear picture of the team as a whole.

2. Research the Subject Matter

Of course you're not expected to know everything about the subject matter, but knowing a few things will make a world of difference.

Take some time to do a little research, such as looking up terminology and acryonyms that you're not familiar with, before you meet with a Subject Matter Expert for the first time. They will greatly appreciate it.

In addition, this initial research will help you create your eLearning course’s glossary: If you are not familiar with all the terms and jargon, it is also likely that neither will the learners.

3. Have Clear Expectations

To make sure that your Subject Matter Experts are on the same page with everyone on the team throughout the development experience and facilitate the process, consider doing the following things:

• Write a schedule with dates for content reviews.
• Write a list of deadlines.
• Keep track of everyone's progress.
• Keep record of all conversation to avoid misunderstandings.
• Use a sign-off document that ensures their approval of your course content.

4. Avoid Existing Content

Taking a distance from existing content will help you start from scratch, as pre-existing content may dictate how to design the eLearning course.

Instead of using existing presentations, begin from a blank screen in a starter template. This way your SME will become more flexible and creative and innovative ideas will be stimulated.

5. Incorporate Space for Additional Information

One of the biggest problem you will most likely face while working with SMEs is to convince them to chop information into bite-sized chunks.

It is very difficult for someone who has spent hours creating material to just throw it away. Make sure you find ways to create in the eLearning course to incorporate an additional information space with the chopped material.

At the end of the day, you and the SME both want the same thing: to help learners perform at the highest levels. Because people are people, this takes some negotiation and ground rules to meet those goals.