Getting Content from SMEs

Wrap up

One of the things you will learn quickly is to have a great respect for the SMEs you work with. Often, without them you are sunk. Building a good rapport with them, being courteous and punctual, and doing as much front-end work as possible will go a long way toward making the information flow more easily. Finally, I find that writers should report out to interested stake-holders when the flow of information from SMEs is not working well. The stake-holders may have a way of helping to get the kinks out, which is much better than waiting until the last day that the document is to be delivered and then telling them that you still don't have the information you need.