You’ve hired a ton of top talent in your start-up. They have great ideas, deliver exceptional results, and bring immense value to your organization. But are you fully harnessing their potential?
Most scaling businesses stop one step short of empowering their teams to be the driving force for innovation and growth. Enter the concept of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)—an untapped resource that can transform how your organization operates and thrives.
What is a Subject Matter Expert (SME)?
When it comes to business specifically, SMEs play a crucial role in driving innovation, problem-solving, and decision-making within teams. Their expertise allows them to contribute unique perspectives, mentor colleagues, and ensure that projects align with industry best practices. SMEs are frequently called upon to share their knowledge, guide strategy, and help teams navigate complex challenges, making them key contributors to the success of organizations in their respective fields.
An easier way to think about it is to think about who on your team you hired and for what reason? In all likelihood, you hired each person to solve a specific problem.
A Subject Matter Expert (SME) is a professional with deep, specialized knowledge in a specific field or domain. Their expertise often stems from years of education, training, and hands-on experience, making them invaluable for guiding teams, solving complex problems, and driving strategic decisions.
No matter where your business is in it’s effort to scale, there is never a time when the knowledge and skill of an SME can’t be harnessed. (Forbes)
The Benefits of Empowering SMEs in Your Business?
Empowering SMEs offers a host of benefits:
Efficient Problem Solving
SMEs streamline workflows by addressing challenges with precision.Enhanced Productivity
Teams save time by turning to SMEs for guidance, avoiding unnecessary trial and error.Knowledge Sharing
SMEs foster a learning culture, enhancing the team’s overall expertise.Improved Documentation
How often do tasks go unfinished due to unclear responsibilities or a sole individual possessing critical knowledge being unavailable? By creating clear SOPs, SMEs ensure business continuity and prevent knowledge bottlenecks.Boosted Brand Visibility
Engaged SMEs can amplify your brand’s reach by speaking at events or publishing expert content.
At Whale, our SMEs regularly share their knowledge at conferences, spreading both knowledge and brand love.
How SME's Spread Brand LOVE
The truth is that your subject matter experts are likely to positively impact the business through the efforts of their work but they’re also likely to raise brand awareness!
The more your subject matter experts engage on the subject they’re passionate about, the more brand love they’re likely to spread!
Case in point? At Whale, team members are often called to speak at conferences and share their stories.
What are some examples of a subject matter expert?
Subject matter experts come in all shapes and sizes across pretty much every industry and every department you can think of. Here are a few examples:
- Social media expert (even down to specific platform experts)
- Operating system specialists
- Manufacturing advisors
- Data analysts
- Investment consultants
- Due diligence specialists
Hubspot is a great example of a company that uses SMEs to grow their audience and provide value in the content they produce for their audience. Their blog focuses on providing expert viewpoints on a range of different topics, so they lean on experts within each field to give a reliable and trustworthy view. This means that people trust their content more, making their content more effective.
How to Identify and Empower SMEs
In a study carried out by Teamstage, they found that 41% of team members who are aware of their strengths show lower absenteeism, and further to this, employees who know what they are supposed to accomplish and are given the opportunity to work freely, are 6 times more likely to be engaged in doing their jobs.
Steps to Identify SMEs
- Look for team members consistently sought out for advice in specific areas.
- Assess performance data to pinpoint individuals excelling in niche areas.
Ways to Empower SMEs
1. Use subject matter experts to document processes
Encourage your company experts to document best practices, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and guidelines within their areas of expertise. This will mean that firstly it doesn’t all fall on one person and secondly that it’s based on BEST practice!
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Don’t forget to create a centralized repository for this documentation, making it easily accessible to the entire team.
2. Reward the effort
Recognize the specialized knowledge and skills your team members bring to the organization and ensure they’re rewarded. This way, they’re likely to want to keep contributing. By the way, this is an excellent way to retain top talent!
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Acknowledge their contributions in team meetings, company communications, or through recognition programs.
3. Invest in Technology and Tools
Provide SMEs with the necessary tools and software to enhance their efficiency. This could include project management software, collaboration tools, or specialized software relevant to their expertise.
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Make sure to use tools, yes, such as Whale, that harness collective wisdom and enable knowledge sharing.
The Future of SMEs in Collaborative Workspaces
Subject matter experts are essential for breaking down silos and fostering collaboration. Cross-functional teams thrive when SMEs act as bridges, connecting departments with their specialized knowledge.
knowledge.
"Collaboration is one of the top skills for future success, with 75% of employees valuing teamwork as crucial."
– GoRemotely
Cross-functional teams bring together individuals from diverse departments, each contributing their unique skills and perspectives. The role of SMEs becomes especially pronounced in these cross-functional settings. With their specialized knowledge, they serve as crucial bridges between departments, providing valuable insights and guidance that drive organizations towards greater efficiency and success.
Bottom Line
Subject matter experts are an incredibly powerful tool for any business, any department, and any team. They bring expertise, experience and influence to your organization, transforming one-dimensional perspectives and significantly impacting a company’s growth and vision. By breaking down silos, promoting continuous learning, and cultivating a culture that values experimentation, leaders can unlock the full potential of their teams. Ultimately, empowering team members as SMEs is an investment in the future, creating a dynamic and collaborative environment that is primed for success.
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FAQs About Subject Matter Experts
What does a subject matter expert do?
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) provide specialized knowledge in their field to guide projects and solve complex problems. They ensure accuracy, offer expert advice, and help teams make informed decisions. SMEs also play a key role in training and mentoring others, sharing their expertise to elevate the organization’s overall knowledge.
How can SMEs improve business processes?
By documenting best practices and streamlining workflows, SMEs enhance efficiency and business processes.
