The Value Of Being A "Generalist"

What does it take to be "good at everything but nothing in particular"? The article below does a great job at describing traits necessary for people to excel in a variety of jobs and professions. Well articulated and worth reading:

Nothing can substitute for depth of analysis, and there's proven value in specialization – it's what education, career paths, scientific research, and technological innovation are built on – but generalism is a secret talent. With so much complex information, fragmented in so many ways and developing faster and faster, it is increasingly important to have generalists around to make sense of it all, of the big picture. People who appreciate diversity, who are in the know about the wider world and who understand how things interact are invaluable observers, matchmakers, and pioneers of the intersectional ideas so vital for success in today’s knowledge economy, conceptual age, and global community.

But what exactly do generalists do? That’s the question most often asked of me and it’s not an easy one to answer. By definition, generalists tend not to focus (actually, they do focus but just not to the extent that specialists do), they don’t often travel in groups (lacking common associations, designations, and unions), and their shape-shifting versatility changes them frequently. But they are definable and there most certainly are essential traits and skills inherent to them.

I’ve identified five core areas at which Creative Generalists excel. They are:
• Wander & Wonder - finding possibility
• Synthesize & Summarize - presenting information
• Link & Leap - generating ideas
• Mix & Match - connecting people
• Experience & Empathize - understanding worldview

Creative Generalist

Comments

[Turtle]

As someone who's gotten paid for doing this for nearly 30 years now, I fully understand the value in it. Overspecialization can be a killer... just ask anyone whose professional development never made it past doing only dBase III development and is now managing a Wendy's.

[matt lambert]

Phew. Now I know I was doing it right all along. Thanks for the pointer Mike