SME Collaboration That Actually Works

Four Ways to Make Your Instructional Designer's Job Easier

In a recent subscriber survey, one of you fine folk (cultured, intelligent readers only here, I like to think… no pressure) recently asked for advice on "how content writers and SMEs can improve their collaboration and preparation to work effectively with instructional designers." The question made me smile because it represents exactly the kind of thinking that makes our industry better. Here's someone actively seeking ways to improve shared work rather than defending professional territory.

The best training experiences emerge from genuine collaboration between subject matter experts, content writers, and instructional designers. Each brings distinct expertise that the others need. SMEs understand the nuanced context where knowledge gets applied. Content writers know how to structure information for comprehension and engagement. Instructional designers understand how people learn and how to translate knowledge into behaviour change.

Note: the roles of content writer and instructional designer have become increasingly merged in many organisations. I am aware of this, but am keeping them separate here in an attempt to answer the question as best as possible. Please contextualise all of this to the relevant roles in your organisation.

When these capabilities work together, we create training that's both pedagogically sound and practically useful. When they don't, we get either technically accurate content that nobody can learn from, or engaging experiences that teach the wrong things.

Understanding What Each Role Contributes

The most productive collaborations start with recognising that each role solves different problems.

Subject matter experts don't just know stuff; they understand the real-world constraints, common misconceptions, and contextual factors that determine whether knowledge actually gets applied.

Content writers don't just make things readable; they structure information to support comprehension and maintain engagement across different audiences.

Instructional designers don't just organise content prettily; they understand how to sequence learning for retention, how to create conditions for skill development, and how to design experiences that change behaviour rather than just delivering information.

The friction usually comes from misunderstanding these distinct contributions and trying to optimise for the wrong outcomes.

Four Practical Ways to Improve the Collaboration

Share context, not just content

Instead of delivering polished documentation, tell us about the messy reality behind your expertise.

• What conversations do you have with people struggling to apply this knowledge?

• What mistakes do you see repeatedly?

• What industry context do practitioners need that textbooks miss?

This contextual intelligence helps us create scenarios and examples that resonate rather than feeling artificially constructed.

Frame around problems, not topics

Rather than organising your expertise by subject matter categories, structure it around the performance problems it solves. Instead of "Here's everything about project management," try "Here's how to prevent projects from derailing when stakeholders change their minds." This problem-centred approach aligns with how we think about training design and makes our job much more straightforward.

Expect iteration, not handoffs

The best collaborations involve multiple creative rounds rather than linear transfers. Your initial content will likely be restructured, chunked differently, or combined with elements you hadn't considered. This isn't criticism, it's the natural process of optimising content for learning rather than reference. Stay curious about why changes are being suggested rather than defensive about the original structure.

Communicate your quality standards early

You know what "good enough" looks like in your field and where oversimplification becomes dangerous. Help us understand where accuracy is non-negotiable and where we have flexibility to prioritise clarity or engagement. This prevents later conversations where well-designed training experiences get derailed by technical accuracy concerns that could have been addressed from the beginning.

What Good Collaboration Actually Achieves

When this works well, everyone gets better at what they do. The subject matter expert learns new ways to share knowledge that makes them more effective in every context. The content writer develops a deeper appreciation for the complexity of behaviour change. The instructional designer creates experiences that feel authentic rather than academically correct but practically hollow.

The employees benefit most, obviously. They get training that helps them perform better rather than just satisfying compliance requirements.

But there's a broader point here. The question that sparked this article represents exactly the professional mindset that makes our industry more effective. When we approach collaboration with curiosity about how to support each other's expertise, we create conditions for work that none of us could achieve alone.

Most professional relationships start with people trying to prove their own value or defend their territory. The alternative is starting with the question: "How can I help you do your best work?" That shift in perspective transforms everything.