Are you a specialist or a generalist?
“There’s a seduction to being an expert, an assumption in society that credibility relies on deep (and narrow) expertise. However, for people operating at the edges, intersections, and overlaps where innovation thrives, being a generalist is far more powerful.” — Jess McMullin
Well the debate here can be extensive with different dimensions and rationalism to it.Psychology is an extensively studied branch however many studies till today are unequivocal.Neither accepted nor rejected.Philosophy is a very well sought but yet has much different outlook to every content.A specialized doctor is always preferred but when we sneeze and cough we head to a GP i.e General physician,not a Chest Physician.
But again there is always a need to have a specialist in our society.Even the MNC post an eligibility for the recruitment.A company seeks for position to perform an X job ,not someone who can hop from one desk to another.There is hierarchy in the positions specialized for the work roles.
That's one view .But i would take this with different perspective.
Both of Specialist and Generalist have their Pros and Cons.
Where a Specialist can become an expert or lead their area of specialization imparting more skilled services with their work there is always a risk of being replaced if not updated with less transferable skills and limited opportunities.
A Generalist may have a bigger picture of looking at things and may have flexibility in their work execution however it is easier to replace a generalist than specialist.
Society needs both Specialist and Generalist but i would say we need to fill the vacuum of growth and this can be done by bringing in more of a generalizing-specialist and a specializing-generalist.
The former is someone who starts out as a generalist, but also has in-depth knowledge over a particular area. A specializing-generalist is someone who is specialized in a particular field, but also has a broader understanding of other aspects or subjects.
My call is for being a specializing generalist and i try to incorporate in my personal life and it has helped me to bring better out of me and at the same time i don't find myself being stagnant too.
Each person starts out as one type, but tends to develop some traits of
the other type as his/her aptitudes, opportunities and environments
dictate.
Well,I am a Neuro-Occupational therapist, an allied health professional,studied four and half years to become a generalist then another three years to become specialist, willing to invest i don't know how many more years in becoming super specialist but on my blog i am a generalist.
Scientifically it is proved that more you explore and engage indifferent learning ,there is better brain activity,growth and neural firing.
Knowing a little more than our comfort subject is always a welcome.It adds to the personality opens up window to bigger pictures in both professional and personal life.
Knowing a little more than our comfort subject is always a welcome.It adds to the personality opens up window to bigger pictures in both professional and personal life.
When you paint your canvas,strike with the strokes you are perfect at, but remember splashes of random ones will bring in more different look.
-SSW
❤️
ReplyDelete