What is a Sub Matter Expert? A Guide for Teams

What happens when your most senior engineer, the only person who truly understands your product’s security architecture, decides to leave the company? Too often, their years of invaluable knowledge walk out the door with them, leaving your team scrambling to answer critical questions in RFPs and security questionnaires. This is the risk of not protecting your institutional knowledge. The key to safeguarding this asset is your Subject Matter Expert. These individuals are the living repositories of your company’s most critical information. This article explains the vital role a subject matter expert plays in not only winning deals but also in capturing and protecting the expertise that gives your business its competitive edge.

Key Takeaways

• Leverage expertise to win more deals: Subject Matter Experts provide the deep, technical knowledge that builds credibility, ensures accuracy in high-stakes proposals, and gives you a competitive edge in complex sales cycles.
• Identify and develop your internal experts: Your most valuable SMEs are often already on your team. Find these go-to problem-solvers, invest in their growth, and create a culture where their contributions are recognized and valued.
• Streamline collaboration with clear processes and tools: Respect your experts' time by setting clear expectations from the start and implementing a central knowledge base to capture and reuse information, freeing them up for high-value strategic questions.

What is a Subject Matter Expert (SME)?

Think of a Subject Matter Expert, or SME, as your team’s secret weapon. When you’re up against a tight deadline for an RFP and a highly technical question comes up, who do you turn to? That’s your SME. This is the person with deep, specialized knowledge in a specific area, whether it’s a product feature, a complex process, or a niche industry regulation. They are the go-to authority you can rely on for accurate, detailed information when the stakes are high.

In the world of sales and proposals, SMEs are invaluable. They provide the critical details that make your response stand out, ensuring every claim is accurate and every technical question is answered with confidence. Instead of scrambling for information or giving a vague answer, you can tap into their expertise to build a compelling and trustworthy proposal. They are the bridge between your sales team and the technical truth of what you offer, helping you put your best foot forward every time.

Defining the Role of an SME

At its core, a Subject Matter Expert is an individual recognized as an authority on a particular topic. This expertise isn't just about having a high-level overview; it's about possessing a profound understanding built from significant experience and focused learning. They are the people who serve as the definitive source for information within their domain.

When creating any kind of technical material—from training manuals and product guides to complex RFP responses—SMEs play a crucial role. They provide the essential content and, just as importantly, review it for accuracy and completeness. For sales teams, this means they can ensure the technical sections of a proposal are not only correct but also clear and persuasive, directly contributing to the quality of the final document.

SME vs. Generalist: What's the Difference?

While a generalist has a broad knowledge base across multiple areas, an SME has a deep, narrow focus. Think of it this way: a generalist might know how the whole car works, but an SME is the one who can rebuild the transmission from scratch. This distinction is key. Being an SME means focusing on one unique part of a job, not just being generally good at a role.

This specialized knowledge is developed over years of hands-on work, education, and dedicated training. An SME’s expertise often surpasses that of their direct manager in their specific area. For example, a sales director leads the team and sets the strategy, but an SME on that team might have a far deeper understanding of a product’s cybersecurity protocols. This allows them to answer highly specific security questionnaires with precision, a task the director might not be equipped to handle.

How Do You Become a Subject Matter Expert?

Becoming the go-to expert on your team doesn't happen by accident. It’s a deliberate process built on a solid foundation of knowledge, years of hands-on practice, and a genuine passion for your field. There’s no single checklist to follow, but the path to becoming a subject matter expert (SME) almost always involves a blend of formal learning and real-world problem-solving. It’s less about reaching a final destination and more about a continuous commitment to deepening your understanding and staying curious.

Think of it as building a house. You need a strong blueprint and quality materials before you can start putting up the walls. For an SME, that blueprint is education, and the materials are the experiences you gather over time. By combining a solid theoretical grasp with practical application, you can start building a reputation as a reliable, knowledgeable resource. It's about showing up consistently, asking the right questions, and being willing to dig deeper than anyone else. The following steps break down how you can strategically build your expertise and become an invaluable asset to your team and your entire organization.

The Role of Education and Certifications

Formal education and certifications are often the first step in building credibility. Think of them as the foundation of your expertise. An advanced degree or a specialized license shows that you’ve put in the time to learn the fundamental principles of your field. This academic background provides you with a structured understanding and a common language to discuss complex topics, which is essential for establishing yourself as a knowledgeable professional.

While not always required, these credentials can give you a significant head start. They signal to colleagues and clients that you have a verified level of knowledge. For many, this is a crucial part of their professional development journey, providing the confidence and the core concepts needed to tackle more complex, real-world challenges down the line.

Why Practical Experience Matters Most

While a degree can open doors, true expertise is forged in the trenches. There is simply no substitute for hands-on experience. Most seasoned professionals will tell you it takes years of focused work—often five to ten years or more—to move from simply knowing information to truly understanding its nuances. This is where you learn how to apply theory to messy, real-world situations that don’t follow a textbook.

This practical application is what separates a knowledgeable person from a true expert. It’s through years of trial and error, solving unexpected problems, and seeing countless variations of a challenge that you develop deep, intuitive knowledge. This is the kind of expertise that allows you to anticipate issues before they arise and provide insights that go far beyond what can be learned in a classroom.

How to Develop Niche Expertise

The fastest way to become an expert is to narrow your focus. Instead of trying to know a little about everything, aim to know everything about a specific something. By honing in on a particular topic within your industry, you can build deep knowledge and become the go-to person for that subject. For example, rather than being a general sales expert, you could specialize in crafting proposals for a specific sector, like government contracts.

This targeted approach makes you more valuable because your skills are both deep and specific. Look for opportunities to work on projects that align with your chosen niche. Volunteer to take the lead on tasks others might avoid. This focus allows you to concentrate your learning and leverage every project as a chance to deepen your understanding, accelerating your path to becoming the trusted expert in that domain.

What Does a Subject Matter Expert Actually Do?

So, what does a subject matter expert actually do all day? It’s more than just knowing a lot about a specific topic. An SME’s real value comes from their ability to apply that deep knowledge in practical ways that move the business forward. Think of them as the go-to resource who ensures accuracy, guides strategy, and helps everyone else on the team level up their game. When your sales team gets a complex security questionnaire or a technical RFP, the SME is the person who has the answers that can make or break the deal.

Their work isn't confined to a single department. You’ll find SMEs collaborating with marketing on whitepapers, helping product teams scope new features, and working side-by-side with proposal managers to craft winning responses. They are the guardians of factual accuracy and the bridge between highly technical concepts and business outcomes. Ultimately, an SME’s job is to share their expertise in a way that reduces risk, builds trust with customers, and empowers their colleagues to do their best work.

Create and Review Technical Content

One of the most visible roles of an SME is contributing to content. They work closely with writers and proposal teams to create technical documents, manuals, and knowledge base articles. The SME provides the core information and then reviews the finished product to ensure every detail is accurate and easy to understand. This collaboration is essential for producing high-quality RFP responses, security questionnaires, and sales proposals. By verifying the technical details, SMEs ensure the information you send to prospects is correct, which builds credibility and prevents costly misunderstandings down the line.

Train Teams and Transfer Knowledge

SMEs are also natural teachers. They play a crucial role in knowledge transfer by training other employees and getting them up to speed on complex topics. This might look like a formal training session for new hires, a workshop on a new product feature for the sales team, or informal one-on-one mentoring. By sharing what they know, SMEs help strengthen the entire team’s skill set and reduce knowledge silos. This ensures that critical information doesn’t live with just one person, making the whole organization more resilient and capable.

Guide Projects and Inform Decisions

Beyond content and training, SMEs are key strategic advisors. In project management, their input is invaluable for making critical decisions. They offer expert opinions that help teams estimate costs, allocate resources, and set realistic timelines. For instance, an SME might advise a product team on the technical feasibility of a new feature or help a sales leader understand the implementation requirements for a potential client. Their guidance helps steer projects in the right direction, ensuring that business decisions are grounded in technical reality.

Ensure Quality and Compliance

Finally, SMEs often act as the last line of defense for quality and compliance. In many workflows, their approval is required before a document or project can move forward. They are responsible for making sure that all information is not only technically correct but also compliant with relevant industry standards and regulations. This is especially important for businesses in fields like finance or healthcare. An SME’s final sign-off provides confidence that your proposals and documentation meet the necessary compliance standards, protecting both your business and your customers.

Why Your Business Needs Subject Matter Experts

Bringing subject matter experts into your workflow isn’t just a box to check; it’s a strategic move that strengthens your entire business. In the world of complex sales and detailed proposals, having an expert in your corner can be the difference between a winning bid and a missed opportunity. SMEs are the people who hold the deep, specific knowledge that generalists simply don’t have. They’re your go-to resource for technical accuracy, your safeguard against costly errors, and your source for the kind of detailed insights that build trust with potential customers.

When you’re responding to a detailed RFP or a security questionnaire, leaning on your SMEs ensures every answer is precise, credible, and compelling. They provide the substance that backs up your sales claims, transforming a good proposal into an undeniable one. Think of them as your internal consultants who can instantly verify a technical claim or provide the perfect, detailed answer to a tricky question in a DDQ. Their involvement isn't just about quality control; it's about building a foundation of expertise that permeates every client-facing document you produce. Ultimately, integrating SMEs into your processes helps you operate with more confidence, protect valuable company knowledge, and drive better results across the board.

Improve Accuracy and Reduce Risk

In high-stakes business documents, accuracy is everything. A single incorrect detail in a proposal or security questionnaire can undermine your credibility and even disqualify you from a deal. This is where SMEs are invaluable. They serve as your first line of defense, reviewing technical specifications, validating data, and ensuring every claim you make is airtight. As one source notes, "SMEs are essential for making sure that information, products, and systems are accurate, reliable, and effective." By embedding them in your review process, you significantly reduce the risk of submitting flawed information. They catch the nuances that others might miss, ensuring your final document is not only correct but also fully compliant with industry standards and client requirements. This meticulous oversight protects your reputation and your bottom line.

Protect Institutional Knowledge

What happens when your most experienced team member leaves? Too often, their years of knowledge walk out the door with them. Subject matter experts are the guardians of this crucial institutional knowledge. They are the living repositories of your company’s processes, technical history, and hard-won lessons. By actively involving them in creating documentation, training materials, and a centralized knowledge base, you can effectively capture and share that expertise across the organization. This ensures that valuable insights aren’t siloed with one person but are accessible to everyone, from new hires to the entire sales team. When you build a system for knowledge transfer, you create a more resilient, self-sufficient team that can consistently perform at a high level, regardless of personnel changes.

Build Credibility and Trust

Trust is the foundation of any strong business relationship, and expertise is how you build it. When potential clients review your proposals, they’re looking for proof that you truly understand their needs and have the skills to deliver. Involving SMEs in your sales process is a powerful way to demonstrate that proof. Their deep knowledge infuses your responses with authority and authenticity, showing that your solutions are backed by real-world experience. As Asana puts it, "Using SMEs adds trust and strength to your projects." Their input transforms generic marketing claims into credible, compelling arguments that resonate with discerning buyers. This level of detail and precision helps you build rapport and establish your company as a trustworthy partner, setting the stage for a successful long-term relationship.

Spark Innovation and Drive Results

SMEs do more than just verify facts; they are catalysts for growth and improvement. Because they are so deeply immersed in their specific fields, they are often the first to spot emerging trends, identify gaps in the market, and see opportunities for innovation. They can provide critical feedback on product development, help refine your sales strategy, and offer fresh ideas for solving customer challenges in new ways. By listening to your experts, you can move beyond maintaining the status quo and start proactively shaping the future of your business. Their insights can lead to better products, more effective marketing, and a stronger competitive edge. This forward-thinking approach, driven by deep expertise, is what ultimately helps you achieve better business outcomes and secure sustainable growth.

Common Challenges of Working with SMEs

Subject matter experts are essential for creating accurate, compelling proposals, but integrating their deep knowledge into your workflow isn't always seamless. They are often juggling their primary job responsibilities alongside requests for their expertise, which can lead to a few common hurdles. Understanding these challenges is the first step to building a more effective and collaborative process for everyone involved. From communication gaps to translating technical jargon, let's look at the typical obstacles teams face and how you can start to address them.

Overcoming Communication Barriers

One of the biggest challenges is simply getting on an SME’s calendar. They have their own deadlines and priorities, and your urgent RFP might not be at the top of their list. This can lead to communication breakdowns, where you’re left waiting for a critical piece of information while your own deadline looms. The key is to make communication as efficient as possible. Instead of sending vague requests, provide clear, concise questions with full context. This respects their time and makes it easier for them to give you the exact information you need without a lot of back-and-forth. Improving your team's communication skills can make the entire process smoother.

Managing Time and Availability

Because SMEs are so busy, managing their time and availability is crucial. It’s unrealistic to expect them to drop everything for a last-minute request. This is where proactive planning becomes your best friend. When you know a proposal is coming, give your SMEs a heads-up as early as possible. Be transparent about the scope of the request and provide a realistic estimate of the time commitment. By setting clear expectations from the start, you allow them to plan accordingly and build your request into their schedule, which prevents bottlenecks and keeps the project moving forward.

Encouraging Team Collaboration

SMEs can sometimes feel siloed from the rest of the proposal team, viewed as just a resource rather than a true collaborator. To get their best work, you need to make them feel like a valued part of the team. Give them the full picture of the project and explain how their contribution fits into the overall strategy. When they understand the "why" behind the request, they can provide more insightful and relevant information. Fostering a collaborative environment where their expertise is respected and their input is genuinely sought will lead to better content and a stronger final proposal.

Translating Expertise for a Wider Audience

Subject matter experts are masters of their domain, which means they often communicate in highly technical terms and industry-specific jargon. While this language is precise, it can be completely lost on a potential customer. A major challenge is translating their expert knowledge into clear, persuasive language that resonates with a non-technical audience. Your role is to act as a bridge, taking their raw information and refining it into a compelling narrative that highlights value. This isn't about simplifying their insights but about framing them in a way that is accessible and directly addresses the customer's needs.

How to Work Effectively with Your SMEs

Working with Subject Matter Experts is less about managing them and more about building a partnership. Your SMEs are the secret weapon for creating accurate, compelling proposals, but their time is often limited and their primary responsibilities lie elsewhere. The key to a successful collaboration is making it as easy as possible for them to share their knowledge. This means shifting the burden of organization from them to you. By creating a clear, streamlined process, you not only get the information you need but also build strong internal relationships that will pay off on future projects. A little preparation goes a long way in turning a potentially frustrating process into a smooth and effective one.

The following strategies will help you build a framework for collaboration that respects everyone’s time and expertise, leading to higher-quality outputs and better business outcomes.

Set Clear Expectations from the Start

Before you even send that first meeting invite, take the time to define exactly what you need from your SME. Ambiguity is the enemy of efficiency. Start by outlining the project's scope, key deadlines, and the specific questions you need answered. It’s crucial to set realistic expectations regarding their time commitment. Instead of saying, "I'll need your help with this RFP," try, "I need one hour for a kickoff call to review these five technical questions, and then 30 minutes for a final review next Tuesday." This clarity allows the SME to fit your request into their busy schedule and shows that you value their time. Providing context on the client and the opportunity also helps them tailor their input for maximum impact.

Create a System for Communication

Effective collaboration hinges on a solid communication plan. You need to give your experts enough space to apply their knowledge while keeping the lines of communication open so they feel supported. Decide on a system that works for everyone, whether it's a dedicated Slack channel for quick questions, scheduled 15-minute check-ins, or a shared document where they can leave comments asynchronously. The goal is to create a predictable rhythm for your interactions. This prevents you from constantly interrupting their day with one-off questions and ensures they know exactly where to go to provide their input. A clear communication strategy minimizes confusion and keeps the project moving forward without unnecessary friction.

Provide the Right Tools and Support

Your SMEs shouldn't have to spend their valuable time digging through old files or answering the same security question for the tenth time. Your job is to equip them with tools that make sharing their expertise seamless. This starts with being prepared for every meeting and providing all necessary background information upfront. Even better, you can implement technology that does the heavy lifting. An AI-powered platform like Iris creates a central knowledge library that stores and manages approved answers. This means your SMEs only need to get involved for truly new or strategic questions, freeing them from repetitive tasks. By providing the right support, you empower them to focus on what they do best: providing high-value, expert insights.

Foster a Truly Collaborative Environment

To get the best work from your SMEs, they need to feel like valued partners, not just a resource to be mined for information. Creating a truly collaborative environment is essential. Start by actively listening to their ideas and incorporating their feedback. After a project is complete, be sure to share the results—especially the wins. Letting an SME know that their input was critical to winning a major deal reinforces their importance and makes them more eager to help next time. Recognizing their contributions publicly and ensuring they get credit for their work helps build a culture where knowledge sharing is celebrated. When SMEs feel their expertise is respected and their contributions are meaningful, they become your strongest advocates.

Which Industries Rely on SMEs the Most?

While subject matter experts are valuable in any field, some industries depend on them more than others. In sectors defined by high stakes, complex regulations, and specialized technical knowledge, SMEs aren't just helpful—they're essential for operations, growth, and risk management. When you're responding to a detailed Request for Proposal (RFP) or a security questionnaire in these fields, tapping into your SME's knowledge is the only way to provide the accurate, credible answers that win deals. Let's look at a few of the industries where SMEs play a starring role.

Healthcare and Life Sciences

In healthcare and life sciences, precision is everything. From developing new pharmaceuticals to manufacturing medical devices, the margin for error is virtually zero. This industry relies on SMEs to manage incredibly specific parts of a project, such as sterile air filtration systems, water purification processes, or specialized packaging protocols. These experts are responsible for verifying that every system and process meets strict regulatory standards. When a hospital issues an RFP for a new imaging machine, a biotech firm needs an SME to confirm technical specifications and compliance with FDA regulations. Their expertise ensures safety, efficacy, and adherence to the law.

Information Technology

The tech world moves fast, and it's built on layers of specialized knowledge. In software development, an SME is often called a "domain expert"—someone who deeply understands the industry the software is built for. For example, an accountant is the domain expert for accounting software; they know the workflows, rules, and pain points that the developers need to solve. When responding to an IT proposal, you need a cybersecurity expert to answer a Vendor Security Questionnaire (VSQ) or a cloud architect to detail a migration plan. These SMEs translate complex technical features into real-world business solutions, ensuring the proposed product actually meets the client’s needs.

Finance and Regulatory Compliance

The finance industry operates within a maze of complex rules and regulations. A single misstep can lead to hefty fines and serious legal consequences. This is where SMEs in areas like anti-money laundering (AML), risk management, and data privacy become indispensable. Often, these experts are lawyers or compliance officers with deep knowledge of specific legislation. When a potential client sends a Due Diligence Questionnaire (DDQ) to assess your company's financial health and operational integrity, your compliance SME is the one who can provide the verified, accurate information needed to build trust and secure the partnership. Their input is crucial for proving your organization is a safe and reliable choice.

Engineering and Manufacturing

In engineering and manufacturing, SMEs are the ultimate authorities on how a system is designed, how it functions, and how it performs under pressure. These are the people who understand the intricate details of a production line, the chemical properties of a material, or the physics behind a structural design. When a client issues an RFP for a large-scale construction project or a new manufacturing process, the proposal must be packed with technical specifications, performance data, and detailed process flows. A process engineer or a quality assurance manager is the only person with the granular knowledge to provide those details and prove your solution is viable, efficient, and safe.

How to Find and Grow SMEs on Your Team

You don’t always have to look outside your organization to find the expertise you need. Often, the most valuable subject matter experts are already on your payroll, quietly excelling in their roles. The key is to identify these individuals and give them the tools and opportunities to grow. By cultivating in-house talent, you create a sustainable source of deep knowledge that can make your proposals, RFPs, and client communications stronger and more accurate. It’s about building a culture where expertise is recognized, shared, and passed on.

Identify Your In-House Experts

A Subject Matter Expert is someone with deep, specific knowledge gained through years of hands-on experience or focused education. They’re the go-to people on your team—the ones others seek out when they’re stuck on a complex problem or need a definitive answer. To find them, look beyond job titles. Who consistently delivers exceptional work in a specific area? Who do managers name as their top performers on technical tasks? Pay attention to the informal leaders and problem-solvers. These are your potential SMEs, and recognizing their contributions is the first step toward formalizing their role and leveraging their expertise across the company.

Create a Path for Development and Mentorship

Technical skill is only half the equation. For an SME to be truly effective, they also need strong people skills to communicate their knowledge clearly. You can help your experts grow by creating a clear development path. Offer training in public speaking, leadership, and mentorship. Pair seasoned experts with junior team members to facilitate knowledge transfer and build confidence. By investing in their soft skills, you’re not just developing an expert; you’re creating a leader who can guide projects, train colleagues, and help your entire team perform better.

Plan for Succession and Knowledge Sharing

When an expert leaves your company, their knowledge shouldn't walk out the door with them. That’s why a plan for succession and knowledge sharing is so important. The goal is to move critical information from one person’s head into a shared, accessible space. Encourage your SMEs to document processes, contribute to a central knowledge base, and lead training sessions. This practice of knowledge sharing protects your institutional memory and ensures that expertise is distributed across the team. It also creates opportunities for others to step up, ensuring you always have a pipeline of talent ready to fill crucial roles.

How to Build a Successful SME Program

Simply identifying your SMEs isn’t enough—you need a structured way to tap into their expertise without burning them out. Building a formal SME program turns a reactive, often chaotic process into a strategic advantage. It ensures that valuable knowledge is captured, shared, and used effectively across your organization, especially when responding to complex documents like RFPs and security questionnaires. A well-designed program empowers your experts, supports your sales teams, and ultimately helps you win more deals by putting your best foot forward, every time.

Define the Program Structure and Goals

Before you do anything else, you need to know what you’re trying to achieve. A successful SME program starts with a clear structure and well-defined goals that address specific business challenges. Are you trying to shorten your sales cycle? Improve the quality and accuracy of your proposals? Or maybe you need to reduce the time your senior engineers spend answering the same questions over and over.

Your goals should be specific and measurable. For instance, you might aim to decrease the time it takes to produce the first draft of an RFP by 40% or increase your win rate on technical proposals by 15%. Just as a small business might investigate government grants to overcome financial hurdles, your program’s goals should be a direct response to the barriers holding your team back.

Create a Central Knowledge Base

Your SMEs’ knowledge is one of your most valuable assets, but it doesn’t do much good when it’s scattered across siloed documents, old emails, and Slack threads. The core of any successful SME program is a central knowledge base where this expertise can be captured, organized, and easily accessed by the entire team. This creates a single source of truth, ensuring everyone is working with the most current and accurate information.

Modern tools can help you build a self-learning knowledge engine that turns everyday collaboration into a strategic advantage. An AI-powered platform can automatically capture and organize information, making it simple to find the right answer when you need it. This frees up your SMEs from answering repetitive questions and allows your proposal team to work more autonomously and efficiently.

Measure the Impact on Your Business

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. To ensure your SME program is delivering real value, you need to track its impact on your business. Start by identifying the key metrics that align with the goals you set earlier. This could include tracking your proposal win rates, the time it takes to respond to RFPs, the number of revisions required per document, or even the satisfaction levels of your SMEs and sales teams.

These metrics provide concrete evidence of the program's success and highlight areas for improvement. By grounding your strategy in data, you can refine your processes, demonstrate the program's ROI, and make a stronger business case for continued investment in your experts and the tools that support them. This feedback loop is essential for building a program that not only works but evolves with your business.

Related Articles

• What is Pre Sales? A Guide to Closing More Deals | Iris AI
• What is Pre-Sales & Why It’s Key to Winning Deals | Iris AI
• 7 Best Automated Proposal Builder Tools for 2025 | Iris AI

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the real difference between being an expert and just being good at my job? Being good at your job means you can handle your day-to-day responsibilities effectively. Being a subject matter expert means you have such a deep understanding of a specific area that you're the person others turn to when they're stuck. It’s the difference between knowing how to follow a process and knowing why that process exists in the first place, how to fix it when it breaks, and how to make it better. An expert’s knowledge is built over years of focused experience, allowing them to see nuances and solve problems that go beyond the standard playbook.

Do I need a fancy degree or certification to be considered an SME? Not necessarily. While formal education and certifications can certainly build a strong foundation and add credibility, they aren't the whole story. True expertise is most often built through years of hands-on, practical experience. Solving real-world problems, learning from mistakes, and consistently working within a specific niche is what truly deepens your knowledge. Think of it this way: a degree might teach you the theory, but experience teaches you the application, which is where your value as an expert really shines.

Our SMEs are always swamped. How can we get the help we need for proposals without overwhelming them? This is a common challenge, and the solution is to make it incredibly easy for them to help you. Instead of sending a last-minute, vague request, do the prep work. Give them a clear, concise list of questions with full context, specific deadlines, and a realistic estimate of how much time you'll need. Even better, use a central knowledge library where their previous answers are stored. This way, they only need to get involved for new or highly strategic questions, which respects their time and frees them from repetitive work.

I want to become the go-to expert on my team. Where do I even start? The fastest path is to narrow your focus. Instead of trying to be a generalist, pick one specific area that genuinely interests you and decide to become the most knowledgeable person on that topic. Volunteer for projects that fall within that niche, even the challenging ones. Ask questions, read everything you can, and find a mentor. Expertise isn't built overnight; it's the result of consistent curiosity and a deliberate effort to go deeper than anyone else in one particular domain.

How can we prevent vital information from leaving the company when an SME does? You have to build a system that captures knowledge before it has a chance to walk out the door. This means moving away from a culture where information lives in one person's head. Encourage your experts to document their processes and contribute to a shared, central knowledge base. Make knowledge sharing a regular part of your team's workflow, not an afterthought. When you create a single source of truth for critical information, you make the entire team more resilient and protect your most valuable asset: your collective expertise.