Would you rather be a warrior in a garden or a gardener in a war? This is a highly debatable topic, and I want to approach it as objectively as possible. It's the classic debate: specialist vs. generalist. But before we dive into that, let's make sure we understand what these terms actually mean.
What is a Specialist?
A specialist is someone who focuses primarily on a specific subject or activity. They are highly skilled and trained in a particular field, often regarded as experts or connoisseurs.
What is a Generalist?
On the other hand, a generalist is someone with a broad range of knowledge and skills across various subjects. They apply their knowledge and abilities to multiple fields or areas.
Who is Better?
Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s tackle the big question: who is better? The answer isn’t straightforward. Even though my title might seem to suggest an answer, I need to explain a few key points to avoid any misconceptions.
We’re living in what some people call a Digital Renaissance. Technology has opened up countless possibilities and opportunities, but it has also brought about a lot of disruptive innovation. This has created a demand for leaders who can effectively manage and coordinate multiple specialists across different industries. Specialists have always existed throughout human history, and they’re not unique to us—other animals, like ants, have specialists in their colonies, too. Some ants are tasked with finding food, others with digging, and some with guarding the queen.
Humans are no different. We’ve always needed specialists to gather or hunt food, farm crops, and build houses. In today’s world, there are countless unique jobs, each serving a specific role in society. But there’s one crucial role we often overlook: who manages these specialists?
Who’s leading these experts, pulling the strings behind the scenes, and ensuring society runs smoothly? This is where generalists come into play. They are incredibly valuable because they provide the oversight and coordination needed to make everything function in harmony.
Why Generalists Beat Specialists | Warrior in a Garden
4 Aug 2024 | 5 min read
CHAPTER I: Cross-Field Knowledge
To effectively manage people in a specific field, you need to be more than just competent in that field—you need a solid understanding of it. There’s a common misconception that generalists are just people who aren’t good at anything, but that’s simply not true. A true generalist will have above-average skills and competence in their areas of knowledge. You can’t just have a basic grasp of a field and call it part of your "generalist arsenal."
Take this example: Imagine someone asks, "How does a nuclear reactor work?" The answer isn’t straightforward. If you presume the person asking is too simple to understand, you’re missing the point. The real question is: How does a politician know how to run a nuclear plant, and how does a nuclear engineer know how to run a country? Generalists possess what’s known as cross-field knowledge. They are multi-dimensional thinkers who can apply insights from different fields and perspectives to solve problems and manage effectively.
Why Generalists Beat Specialists
CHAPTER II: The Craftsman vs. The Cog
Understanding the concepts of value and outcome-based thinking is crucial. The output you get doesn't necessarily reflect the input. You could put in 1 and get an outcome of 10, or put in 10 and get an outcome of 1. Leverage is key, and using it correctly makes all the difference.
Take any business as an example. Say you start a haircut business and do everything yourself: cutting hair, cleaning, accounting, marketing, researching competitors, handling legal matters, and creating your own graphic design. How much output can you realistically achieve this way? Now, imagine you have a specialist for each role. The math isn’t just about having more employees—it’s about having the right ones. A generalist leverages specialists who excel in their roles, resulting in far superior output. Outcome-based thinking is about maximizing output while minimizing input. In this analogy, the generalist is the craftsman, while the specialists are the cogs in the machine.
CHAPTER III: Unbreakable
Reflecting back on the digital renaissance, we live in a world that’s evolving so quickly that soon, specialization alone won’t be enough. If you don't want to be replaced by automation and disruptive innovation, the generalist path is the way to go. Some might argue that certain specialization roles are irreplaceable, but that's not really true. Specialization roles evolve with technological development.
For example, an architect in the 20th century specializing in traditional drawing boards would be easily replaced by AutoCAD. And now, there’s a heated debate about AI-generated art. To be invincible against disruptive innovation and automation, you need to learn and adapt to other skills, becoming a generalist. Being a talented artist is impressive, but to elevate yourself, you need to learn how to market and brand yourself. Being a prodigal software developer is great, but there's room to grow if you can't communicate effectively. And if you want to build the next Facebook or TikTok, good luck relying solely on your technical skills without fundamental soft skills like communication, management, leadership, and business acumen.
While there’s nothing wrong with being a specialist, the world is evolving, and so must we. Humans need to serve larger roles than just one job. With the current explosive growth of technology, we are entering another type of renaissance, discovering new things at an exponential rate. AI, which processes input data and generates output more efficiently than ever, is creating a feedback loop with exponential growth. Many industries are lagging, and it’s only a matter of time before automation replaces or changes our roles.
Even after everything I’ve said, I still encourage having some specialization—just build and learn more skills on top of it, making you a great and competent generalist. Strive to be a jack of all trades, master of at least one. Here’s how you can become an expert generalist:
Here’s how you can become an expert generalist:
Number 1: Learn Soft Skills
Soft skills are key to leveraging your abilities across industries and standing out from the competition. They help you communicate effectively and demonstrate your expertise, gaining recognition more easily. There's little room for growth if you work in isolation. You need mentors, friends, team members, and allies to support you in achieving greater goals. You’ll have better scale and more power with just average skills and a good network than with expert skills all by yourself.
Number 2: Learn Just Enough
You only need to be an intermediate chess player to understand how grandmasters think and strategize. You only need to beat the Ender Dragon once in Minecraft to understand how speedrunners finish the game quickly. You only need to know roughly how full-stack development works to create a team of front-end UI/UX designers and back-end developers for your IT team. The point is, you only need to know just enough to converse with experts in the field. You're not the one doing the tasks—you just need to lead and direct them with a goal.
Number 3: True Curiosity and Passion
Nothing repels specialists more than people who have no natural inclination or curiosity in their field. Experts need a purpose and a reliable, competent generalist to align with. Take Elon Musk, for example. He manages multiple billion-dollar companies in different industries because he has a clear vision, true curiosity, and a passion for learning, even rocket science.
Number 4: Adapt or Die
You need to adapt or die. Many incompetent generalists fail to realize their team's true potential because they don't adapt to current times. Managers who refuse to learn new technology or executives who are too scared to evolve their company ideologies are left behind.
Conclusion
The debate between being a specialist and a generalist isn’t about determining which is better, but understanding the value each brings. Specialists provide deep expertise crucial for mastering specific tasks and advancing fields. However, as society progresses exponentially, the role of the generalist becomes increasingly vital. Generalists bridge gaps between diverse fields, manage and coordinate specialists, and adapt to new challenges and opportunities. They integrate knowledge from various domains, making them indispensable in leadership roles and in navigating modern complexities. So, strive to be a jack of all trades, and a master of at least one. Embrace curiosity and never stop learning.
Why Generalists Beat Specialists
Have you ever heard the saying, "It's better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war"? This ancient proverb speaks volumes about the importance of being prepared and strong, even in times of peace. It suggests that while one should live a life of tranquility and harmony, possessing the ability to defend oneself and others is invaluable. This idea resonates deeply in various aspects of life, from personal development to professional environments.
PERSONAL GROWTH
Constantly Learning. Constantly Evolving.
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