If you are operating as a one-person L&D team or even a small but mighty squad, you know the struggle. The demand for upskilling/training is infinite, but your capacity to design solutions is finite.

In the corporate setting, learning doesn’t happen strictly within the confines of an e-learning module or a scheduled workshop. It happens in the flow of work, through the everyday collaboration of colleagues. This makes your Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) the most valuable, yet often underutilised, asset in your organisation.

However, being an expert doesn’t automatically make someone a teacher. Most corporate SMEs lack the instructional design background that education professionals possess. If we simply “extract” knowledge from them, we get dense, un-engaging content.

We need to stop simply extracting information and start building capability. Your goal is to give your SMEs the skills they need to teach their own topics. Here are four concrete steps to transform them from contributors into capable educators.

1. Build trust through curiosity

The relationship between L&D and SMEs is often transactional: “I need this content by Friday.” To change this, you must demonstrate learning agility.

  • Go deep: Don’t just capture their knowledge; engage with it. Ask inquisitive questions about the nuance of their discipline.
  • The payoff: When you show genuine interest, you build credibility. You stop being “the admin who needs slides” and start being a partner who helps them codify their legacy.

2. Combat the “curse of knowledge”

Experts often struggle to explain concepts simply because they have forgotten what it feels like not to know. This is the “Curse of Knowledge.” To fix this, put your SMEs in situations that simulate the beginner’s mindset.

  • The “Taboo” method: I have run exercises where SMEs must explain complex concepts without using their standard industry jargon or acronyms (like the game Taboo). It highlights their blind spots immediately.
  • The analogy challenge: Ask them to translate a technical process into a real-world analogy (e.g., explaining cybersecurity protocols using a home security metaphor). This bridges the gap between expert and novice.

3. Frictionless tooling over “flashy” tech

Meet your SMEs where they are. If they live in PowerPoint or MS Teams, do not force them into a complex authoring tool on day one.

  • Focus on UX: Teach them that learner experience trumps fancy tech. Show them why “less is more” regarding text on a slide.
  • Provide guardrails: Instead of asking them to build from scratch, provide templates and structures. If you do introduce authoring tools, ensure they are frictionless. Your goal is to build their self-efficacy, not overwhelm them.

4. Create a community of practice

Finally, don’t let your SMEs operate in silos. Hold dedicated sessions where they can be exposed to good learning experiences.

  • Show, don’t just tell: Let them experience a well-designed workshop as a learner.
  • Elevate them: Frame this collaboration as a career development opportunity for them. By helping them become better communicators and educators, you are making them more influential leaders within the business.

The struggle of the one-person L&D team often comes from trying to play every instrument in the orchestra yourself. To meet that infinite demand, you must put down the instruments and pick up the baton. Your SMEs are the musicians holding the knowledge; your new role is to provide the cues, tempo, and confidence they need. By conducting rather than creating, you turn the noise of overwhelming demand into a symphony of expertise.

Anna Poluektov, Finance Learning & Development Manager, Reckitt

Anna is a versatile L&D specialist with deep expertise in functional training design and delivery across industries. A champion of fit-for-purpose learning tech, she blends innovation with practicality to drive performance and engagement.

Anna will be speaking at the World of Learning Conference 2026
Tuesday 3 February, session 9: 14:45 – 15:25, Room A