How does one become a subject matter expert?
Georgina Barrick
Head of Sales and Talent Solutions @ Resourgenix | New Business Development Expert
Why choose to be a Subject Matter Expert??
With the high demand for a Subject Matter Expert's knowledge comes both opportunities and challenges. Over the past decade, there has been a significant shift away from more generalist skills and a larger focus on becoming a specialist. This has been driven by global shifts in technology and the overall pace of development. Rapid innovation has been key to driving specialisation. ?Training oneself to become an expert in your field is crucial. It goes without saying that you should study up and stay abreast of the latest developments in your area of specialisation. (What may be relevant today could be obsolete tomorrow.) Here are several capabilities and credentials that any Subject Matter Expert must have:?
Focused knowledge of a specific field
A wealth of knowledge is crucial for Subject Matter Experts. It's not just the fundamentals here. Understanding and keeping abreast of the latest thinking relating to your area of specialisation, attending conferences, and connecting with other thought leaders in the space are essential. You would want to broaden your depth of knowledge and explore even those with contradictory views. ?
Adaptability
SMEs should be flexible in their approach and open to new ideas that may even test their own constructs. Sometimes areas of specialisation overlap and require an SME to develop a new set of skills or bank of knowledge in order to remain relevant.
The need to absorb information
领英推荐
Subject Matter Experts are renowned for their research abilities. If an SME has a gap in their knowledge, they feel compelled to fill in the blanks by researching it. This drives them to continuously feed their curiosity and learn new things, whether directly related to the field or not. An SME, by very definition, does not spread themselves too thin across too many fields.?
(P.S. SMEs are always ready to seize new learning opportunities.)?
Strong work ethic
Experts in their fields tend to be proactive people. They take initiative and have a relentless dedication to their work. This is relevant to every facet of their professional lives. When a Subject Matter Expert is needed to assist with the completion of content, they may have to put in extra hours and go the extra mile. However, to avoid exhaustion, they find ways to balance their work and personal lives.?
Finding the best approach is crucial, and Subject Matter Experts are often excellent problem-solvers. As an SME, one must summarise the information in a way that everyone can understand. SMEs must be careful in an operational environment and not fall into the trap of becoming “academic” – implementation of knowledge to achieve defined outcomes is critical for success and is where an SME can show the most value.
Fractional COO/CMO, Board Member, Ski Instructor, Micro-Influencer, Climate & Human Rights Advocate, Philanthropist, Photographer, Writer, Musician, Producer, Publisher, Offgrid Dweller, Taoist
1 年Spot on!!
Administration Accounts cum Admin at Best Construction Bazar
1 年Can you help me to get a job I THINK YOU WILL ABLE TO HELP ME MAM
A commercially-astute and accomplished professional with comprehensive experience in leading and directing all facets of strategy, finance, ICT, supply chain/ facility management, governance, and compliance.
2 年The aim in my view is to be a subject specialist with business acumen. Livelihoods are dependent on SMEs getting sound practical and profitable solutions
VP of Product Management
2 年Excellent article. To Jean-Louis Viljoen 's very valid point, I will agree that experience is extremely valuable, academic knowledge save time and help to create a competitive advantage much faster. Good theory has been tried and tested empirically in industry with anomaly conditions also identified. There are 3 levels of SMEs: the pure research academics, applied research academics (like me) and then consultants. Each play a role in the creation and diffusion of knowledge to industry. Some food for thought: (1) Many academics never worked in industry, that should be considered and noted. (2) There are academics who do not agree with mainstream thinking, industry should especially listen to this group as well. (3) I have come across situations where consultants do not thoroughly understand a theory and thus "sell" it to industry with their own interpretation, which then have catastrophic results and thus give academic theory a bad name. (4) In many cases companies want expert knowledge for FREE, thus do not want to spend the money nor the time with SMEs but want results. I have observed that companies who benefits the most from academia and SMEs are the ones who have long-term collaborative relationships and pay.
Driving IT and GRC service delivery excellence: guiding future leaders and organisations to transform supplier and partner management, products, services & solutions(ITIL, COBIT, ISO27001, DORA, SOX...)
2 年I almost don’t want to answer as many SME’s today cannot solve a complex situation to save their lives. For me, I’ll just say this, SME’s are born through many, many failures. The ones that pick themselves up and try again and again, till they get it right. Too many “paper” gurus and SME’s are selling themselves in the market today, costing organisations and businesses millions