The #1 trap Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) fall into when building their first course? The “Data Dump.”
They try to capture every single nuance of their expertise, resulting in a 60-slide deck that overwhelms the learner.
The fix is simple but takes discipline: Start with the outcome, not the content.
Instead of asking, “What do they need to know?” ask, “What do they need to do after this?”
When you focus on performance instead of information, you stop being a bottleneck and start being a mentor. Your learners will thank you for it, and your course will drive results.
Have you ever had to simplify a complex topic? What was the hardest part to cut?
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