Last night I read a great article about pandas. Pandas seem lazy and gluttonous, and even lazy in their gluttony. Their bellies are Buddha-round, and their faces are delightfully blank. They seem disinterested in anything but the branches of bamboo clutched in their paws.
Now I don’t want to dehumanize SMEs. I’d rather anthropomorphize pandas. But the article got me thinking about those SMEs in course design meetings who seem disinterested in the proceedings. They drink their cups of coffee and eat their sandwiches. Then they are caught like Po in the rafters (see 0:51 in the youtube link above) when you try to elicit a comment on covering a course topic or posing a discussion question to learners.
In my experience, all (or most) SMEs have something to offer. They may not contribute in SME meetings because they think they have nothing to offer. They have expertise in their profession, but perhaps they’ve never developed training or member education. They may simply be intimidated by the range and depth of knowledge present in other SMEs at the meeting.
You just have to adapt to their contribution style. They may have some great research or reports they can send you for course development. They may provide excellent feedback on drafts of course materials, video scripts, or online training modules. Or they may simply validate a hunch through a quick call or e-mail.
The article concludes that there is a purpose behind the ways of the panda, despite the desire of one conservationist to give up on them. We shouldn’t give up on our SMEs, or any members who seem disengaged. Sure, we’d love to have them serving their association, and helping us do our jobs, in robust ways. But to keep them engaged in the long run, we have to adapt to their contribution styles.
Look for my next entry on rapid instructional design. In the meantime, check out the Giant Pandas at the National Zoo on the Panda Cams.
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