After nearly 3 decades in L&D, I know for a fact peer-driven learning makes the biggest impact on employee performance. The data says so too. The challenge is learning how to get your SMEs involved. Here's my advice: BACKGROUND Since SME-led collaborative learning makes a bigger impact on performance vs. generic training, it’s a no-brainer that L&D would capitalise on this in our programs, right? Yes, but… The problem is the SMEs we rely on for collaborative learning aren’t always able to commit the time we’d like them to. They’re being relied on to deliver for the org over contributing to our programs. So it's inevitable that we’ll have a hard time convincing SMEs to help us create content for L&D, right? Wrong. It is NOT inevitable - as long as we rethink our ask. SOLUTION The reality is, it’s easier to buy or build generic solutions, but it's harder to achieve real impact with them. As L&D leaders, whether we make an impact or not most often relies on our ability to package REAL subject-matter expertise and proprietary knowledge for the benefit of our workforce. So we need to not only sell our SMEs on the organisational value of their input, but we must be tactical and resourceful in HOW we involve them. We do not need our SMEs to create an exhaustive content library. Your standard online learning provision serves this purpose. No, you’ll never know if it works but you don’t have to. It’s there. It’s used. It’s fine as is. What we absolutely do need is SME-input on critical performance issues. The problems that need solving. The things unique to your org that are costing you time, money, opportunity, etc. This is where you enlist your SMEs. Not that long ago you might have asked them to create you an online course. But now, if you know the ACTUAL problem that needs to be solved, you can make an excellent first pass with genAI to address that specific issue, and then tap your SME in to add expertise and nuance. Just last week I saw the proficiency levels on a skills-mapped role being used to pinpoint the actual development required, and then the AI course builder created a draft that bridged the precise gap in proficiency levels. Armed with this, all that was needed was an SME to check it over, add their expertise and nuance, and make sure it was unique to the org and target audience. So in anticipation, make sure: - You understand the problem that needs to be addressed. - You can articulate the current situation and the desired one. - You understand the culture enough to prompt with specificity. - You have an intuitive AI course creator like 360Learning’s - You line SMEs up to review, refine, and add nuance. TAKEAWAY The whole expectation on SMEs has changed in a short space of time. They're still your most valuable asset in creating performance-driven L&D content, but you no longer need them to devote hours upon hours to supporting you. You just need to be set up in a way that makes it easy for them.
Yes! And, at the risk of boring on about it, it’s worth noting how AI can help here. First, in collecting the wisdom (helping structure better interviews and transcribing/ transforming the content) and secondly, in leveraging new and existing content (the ROI on SME knowledge is multiplied when we can make the content self-serve, on demand and conversational).
The value of peer-to-peer learning is often undervalued. It has exponential impacts on culture, innovation, and effectiveness as people expand their network and become more efficient in breaking down silos and obstacles to collaboration and success.
Thank you, David for always providing provocative thinking for our community. I’m completely convinced you are correct about SME involvement in performance-driven solutions, but we sometimes get stuck at the proof / business case for leaders to support this effort. Would love to see any case studies with data that could help us influence leaders. Thanks in advance!
You mention the data says peer-driven learning makes the biggest impact on employee performance - do you or anyone reading have something you could point to?
So well said !
So true, I heard a quote once that if you gave the smartest person in the world one hour to save the planet, they'd spend 55 minutes figuring out what the problem is and 5 on the solution. The problem is so few people even have that spare 5 minutes much less the whole hour available. Give your SMEs clear direction and the right tools and they'll take it home!
Great reminder that impactful L&D isn’t about more content, it’s about the right content delivered efficiently- respecting the expertise of SMEs, utilizing innovative tools to bridge the gaps, and aligning L&D efforts with measurable business performance. #gamehchanger for anyone looking to maximize the value of SME involvement in modern L&D strategy.
Thanks. I found this post really helpful. I’m currently at the ideas stage with new content and was wondering how to get SMEs to give me their time. I like the simple concept of giving them more of an ‘editor’ role rather than creating from scratch.
Connecting leaders who want to learn with their peers.
1moGreat ideas. Many firms are using AI to build SME twins.