I started my career in an area of specialization, but soon realized that my nature needed to deal with something less programmed, less "exact". After a short time, I expanded my comfort zone and left Portugal, encountering another work and another culture, where I developed several skills that I consider precious today. Later, in the face of an adversity in life, I needed to return to my country, which was experiencing a deep economic crisis. At that moment, in "survival" mode, I decided to undertake a personal assistance service aimed at people not residing in the country and in the operationalization of their needs in Portugal: for 6 years I never had a day like the other, I had a lot of fun and discovered that I could "do everything" (or almost everything), but still, I felt the weight of not being an expert in anything...
Throughout my growing up, in my head, I thought that all people should be experts at something: But to be an expert, don't we have to make an impact? Do something that makes us stand out? I remember that I was always interested in various subjects, but I didn't feel like I was an expert in anything. I felt that I couldn't stand out and this impacted me negatively. On the other hand, around me I felt that being a generalist was something less valued, however, one day I realized that most people around me were specialists, with deep knowledge in very specific areas, and that therefore, these opinions and the way I saw myself was biased.
As I matured and developed skills, I began to understand that if I found purpose in my work, I would generate impact for the service, for the people, and for the business. Today, already past the 40 barrier, with 20 years of career in such diverse areas, since I recognized myself as a generalist professional I feel more connected to myself. This change happened (even without me realizing it immediately) from the moment I started a job where I approach diverse subjects every day. Today, as an Executive Search Consultant, I have discovered numerous advantages in being a generalist in a world of specialists, without losing sight of the business/market, but above all of people. Being a generalist requires sensitivity and interest in going deep enough and effectively enough into various subjects, enabling the connection between these subjects in a productive way, understanding causes and effects, understanding processes, relationships, structures and organizations. As a generalist I feel I am learning every day, I have been acquiring multidisciplinary thinking and a broad view of the impacts between areas, markets, and professionals. At the same time I try to create solutions to problems, connecting diverse points of view in a broad vision of a constantly evolving job market.
I recently read a book that addresses just that: the progression of generalists in the marketplace, based on the theory that the more we experiment, we gain greater insight into our abilities, as well as combine experiences from various areas of knowledge. Packed with various studies and evidence on the world's most successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors, and scientists, David Epstein's book "Versatile - The Advantages of Being a Generalist in a World of Specialists" argues that in most fields - especially those that are complex and unpredictable, generalists are poised to excel. The author illustrates that as specialists dig even deeper, while computers master more of the skills once reserved for highly focused human beings, people who think broadly and embrace diverse experiences and perspectives will increasingly thrive, reinforcing the idea that in a complex world, the best tool is flexibility. Example: the analogy between careers and top-level sports, revealing that athletes who start their specialization later in life achieve better performances than athletes who started their career focused as a specialist.
Despite the corporate world's insistence on specialization, the workers most likely to reach top positions are generalists, not only because of their innate ability to adapt to new workplaces, positions, or different cultures, but mainly because generalists can easily adapt to an "environment" where it is increasingly valuable to know "a little about a lot.
I do not intend here to influence that "team generalists" wins over "team specialists". It is challenging to see that some profiles that started their careers as specialists are today better generalists, as well as the opposite: being a generalist may have helped to be a better specialist. In a world of permanent change, I believe that all institutions need both profiles in their teams for the business to be successful, because generalists and specialists are complementary professionals.
References:
David Epstein: Versátil - The Advantages of Being a Generalist in a World of Specialists
Michael Hecht: Generalists Evolve Into Specialists on Vimeo
Generalist vs Specialist – Guide to Purposeful Success
