You know you need to find people with domain expertise to build a data training academy. But where do you find them? Your L&D team can help direct the initative, but they’re not domain experts themselves. You could hire a multinational training consultancy to pitch in, but you’re really paying for cachet there versus speed or delivery. What a giant corporation or new department could deliver you, so could the right sole consultant; someone who understands the data and the data education.
I’ve been on both sides of the table here: as a subject matter expert (SME), and as the manager of a content team building large-scale data training programs. Here’s what works for a good data SME.
Content development trumps certifications
A while back a client placed me as a “second stringer” for a content project because they found someone who had worked at some top consulting shops, among other accolades. However, this individual had never developed any technical content, and this became quickly apparent.
I have seen this assumption time and again that the best person for the SME is the most credentialed. However, you’re hiring a data analyst SME to have quite a different skill set than just a regular SME: a proven record of content development is more important than any work or school affiliation.
Generalization trumps specialization
Similar idea here: you might think you need the most seasoned expert of some topic to develop that material, but this rarely goes well. Get someone too experienced and they’ve likely forgot what it’s like to be a beginner. They can’t instruct with empathy.
On top of that, hidebound specialists often lack the versatility to pick up a new topic quickly — and you’ll likely need that in your SMEs, as no single person can be a “real” expert in all the topics you need to cover.
Creative mentality trumps technical mentality
Finally, and I think all these points are related, but you need to find those with an eye for being a creator, rather than just a technician.
Does the average data analyst think about like leaving enough whitespace in a document, or where to find the most versatile dataset to demonstrate some statistical concept, or how to arrange topics to give the best “a-ha” moment to learners?
If an SME has never formally developed content, these design aesthetics will get overlooked. But they crucial to a program’s success.
So look for someone who can tell you on the spot where to get free images, or how to record a screencast GIF. Ask your potential SME to name you some basics in accessibility. These are not skills that will get a typical data analysts promoted, but they are essential to develop strong content as an SME. So don’t hire based on a great job title!
Most importantly: It’s what they do
Most SMEs work on a contract basis which is understandable, given the project nature of the work.
That said, it’s risky to rely on a pool of contractors with full-time jobs who see the work as a passion-project or side hustle. For the reasons mentioned above, technical content creation is a specialization in and of itself, which most data professionals do not gain in their profession.
The biggest mistake I see is in hiring SMEs is the assumption that the best tactician is right for the job; however, a good subject matter expert combines domain expertise with strong design, content marketing and even entrepreneurial chops, none of which are coins of the realm in data.
For these reasons, I strongly suggest finding SMEs who specialize in content creation, to the extent that it’s explicitly part of their business. This does not mean insisting your SMEs swear off hands-on data work — far from it! The best education is based in everyday practice. It does, however, mean understanding that teaching and writing about data requires quite a different skill-set than just doing data, and rewarding that unique skill set. You, in turn, will be rewarded with a quality result.
If you could use a similar boost in building data upskilling programs at your organization, please do get in touch. You can drop me a line or schedule a free initial consult call. With the right lean team, you can get data literacy right.
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