Remember, You’re a SME too!

Working with subject matter experts, SMEs is a universal function as an instructional designer, ID. This part of the job requires collaboration and effective communication to ensure the content is of the best quality.  IDs work with all types of individuals with different personalities, cultures, and experiences, including levels of professionalism. The latter, levels of expertise and professionalism, can hit you right in the gut and ego. Most SMEs are very knowledgeable and have years of education and experience under their belt.  As an instructional designer, you are very much an SME in your given field, but providing insight and feedback may have you timid or a default ‘yes man.’

As taken from one of my favorite movies with a bit of a tweak, SMEs are like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get.  With all these variables, i.e., cultural, personality, and professionalism differences, it is important to consider the following to sustain your working relationship with SMEs and your confidence as an instructional designer.

1. Communicate from a receiver-based approach – SMEs are likely to communicate from a sender-focused approach as they focus on providing the content to the ID rather than communicating for understanding. (Sellnow et al., 2015)  As an ID, it is crucial the SMEs understand your interpretation of the material and thought process to how you plan to deliver the content.
2. Be cognizant of cultural differences – As Richardson et al. (2019) point out, organizational cultures are a part of cultural differences. These organizational differences may “impact or support a project” (p. 868)
3. Learn from the mistakes – Every collaboration with a SME may not go according to plan. Remember, there are several internal and external factors and constraints that can affect your collaborative efforts. (Richardson et al., 2019)