How to Build Strong Partnerships with Subject Matter Experts

Ask any instructional designer about their biggest production challenges and you’ll likely hear that one of them is working with subject matter experts (SMEs). This shouldn’t surprise you – SMEs play a crucial role in your course’s success, yet coordinating with them often becomes a significant hurdle.

This post offers some practical tips on how to establish effective working relationships with subject matter experts while avoiding common pitfalls that can derail your course development.

Understanding your subject matter expert’s perspective

Your subject matter experts bring invaluable knowledge of both content and work environment to the table. Their input shapes your entire project, making their time and commitment essential. But here’s the reality: like everyone else, subject matter experts juggle packed schedules with limited availability.

Let’s explore how to build and maintain effective partnerships with your subject matter experts to create outstanding courses together.

Skip the learning theory lecture

Have you ever sat through a meeting where instructional designers throw around names like Gagne, Bloom, or Csikszentmihalyi? While those learning theories matter, dropping educational theorists’ names won’t win your SME’s support. Instead, focus on creating great learning experiences.

Most subject matter experts approach e-learning from two perspectives:

• Their gut instincts about what works
• Their previous experience with online courses

Here’s the challenge: subject matter experts often default to what they know. If they’ve only experienced click-through courses, that’s what they’ll expect to create. The good news? Even subject matter experts dislike boring e-learning – they just might not know the alternatives. That’s where you come in.

Show, don’t tell

Instead of explaining what makes great e-learning, show your SME real examples of effective e-learning. Their vision of e-learning likely stems from courses they’ve taken. By presenting alternative approaches, you’ll expand their perspective and set new expectations.

Follow these tips when sharing examples:

• Focus on relevant interactivity rather than flashy features
• Highlight how learners benefit from interactive elements
• Keep demonstrations brief – don’t expect them to sit through entire courses
• Present three different approaches to avoid overwhelming them
• Explain specifically why each example would work for their course

Align with organizational goals

Remember: everyone wants the organization to succeed. Your role involves creating learning environments that produce results efficiently and cost-effectively. This means going beyond simply converting PowerPoint slides to e-learning – you need to connect course content to real-world applications that improve performance.

Set clear expectations

Save time and reduce friction by establishing clear expectations early:

• Create agreed-upon timelines
• Define specific action items
• Recognize that SME support often falls outside their regular duties
• Respect their time constraints

Build strong relationships

Want to secure your SME’s ongoing support? Try this proven technique: send an email praising their contributions to their manager and CC them. This simple gesture can make a huge difference when you need extra time for reviews or follow-up work.

Keep it practical

Early in my career, I learned a valuable lesson while working on a manufacturing floor course. While showcasing elaborate learning concepts, a senior technician asked sarcastically, “You’re one of those college-educated people, huh?”

The message was clear: I had over-engineered the course, focusing too much on fancy features instead of practical needs. This approach can damage your credibility. Rather than being viewed as a valuable partner, you risk being seen as someone who wastes time without adding real value.

Your path to success

Managing relationships with subject matter experts represents a crucial part of your e-learning project’s success. They influence your content, shape your design decisions, and ultimately help determine whether your course succeeds or fails. By following these guidelines, you’ll build stronger partnerships with your subject matter experts and create more effective learning experiences together.