Subject matter experts (SMEs) are the people inside your organization who hold the unique knowledge, skills and attitudes that keep your customers coming back for more. They hold the keys to your competitive advantage that is the unique value and distinction that your company offers in the marketplace. SMEs are your company’s entrée into your industry.

For that reason, your SMEs are essential to building critical training programs. (See last week’s blog for the distinction among non-essential, essential and critical training) SMEs are the people who know what goes into your unique, probably patented, products. They are also the people who have established irreplaceable relationships with your top customers and make sure the organization hums by promoting a company culture that values employees and innovation. SMEs an be found in all corners of your organization, so whether you are designing a safety program, a manufacturing module or a leadership retreat, make sure to consult closely with the people who are getting it right, right now.

What kinds of information are you looking for when talking with your SME? Three things. They know your past, understand your competitive advantage in the present marketplace, and have the insight to understand your organization’s needs into the future. They can:

1. Ground your training: Your employees already talk your industry’s language to a greater or lesser extent. Your training needs to ground them in the history of how and why you do what you do today. An organization’s SMEs have a grasp on what has been tried, failed and succeeded, or they wouldn’t be there today. Make sure you download some history from them so your training tells a complete story by providing context, and also helps your employees avoid past mistakes.

Your company has already tread the hard road. Preserve those lessons for the future to avoid the curse of “those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.” That history resides with your SMEs.

2. Instill best practices. Because your SME already intimately knows your business, they are the best place to start to make sure your employees are getting the full and correct story the first time. When you are building training with your internal experts, you will be forging ahead from your first interaction.

Your employees have a lot to learn from your SMEs. Make sure your training leaves employees with an “Ah-ha!” that shows they are coming up the learning curve. That additional knowledge resides with your SMEs.

3. Find the dragons. Your SMEs got where they are in your company because they are not just a leading light inside your organization, but because they are a leading light in their field. True players can read the tea leaves, not because they are omniscient, but because they are highly skilled in a specialized area and can connect the dots that the layperson does not see. Every business wants to know where the opportunities and threats lie in the industry. Your SME can ensure your training materials see around the corners and build that competency into your future leaders, as well.

Keep your company on the cutting edge by giving your employees vision into an uncertain future. If dragons go there, your SME knows it.

In this highly competitive environment, no matter your industry, your competitive advantage is your best friend and that best friend is your SME. Tap into their knowledge to communicate your company’s value and distinction to your employees. Make sure your training includes the unique solutions that keep your company competitive.

As Grandma used to say, “Don’t hide your light under a bushel basket.” Your SMEs are lighting your organization’s path. Consult with them.