|
|
This issue of Elements is all about G for Generalist! A generalist is the opposite of someone who is a specialist. "Jack of all trades and master of none" is used to describe a generalist. Generalists have also been identified more positively by the term "renaissance" man or woman. Leaders and managers must have generalist skills, and also need to have a certain depth of specialty in some areas to be successful. Personal life too, requires the skills of being a generalist. Certain generalist skills may be necessary for survival. You may be one of the many people who realize that some of the skills required to get a job in this market are very different than the skills needed to actually do the job. Knowing what skills, and how much of each to learn can be tricky. In addition, the skills needed over time will change. Some of the "generalist" life skills I was taught in high school are irrelevant today, like learning how to sew a skirt or baking a cake from scratch.
A new life skill I do need to acquire is home maintenance. Many of the generalist skills I use in business I am now adapting in my approach to home maintenance. One of my previous home maintenance "solutions" was just to buy a new house, rather than fix up the old one. The other home maintenance "solution" was being married to a builder. Neither of these approaches works anymore! This time I don't want to move and the market doesn't support a move, so home maintenance is a new skill and challenge for me. My latest challenge has been to fix the three water leaks in the roof that appeared during the winter. I realized I could take the specialist approach, or a generalist one. I could become a roof specialist and fix it myself, after becoming a roof expert. However, I decided to take the more natural path for me, which was to admit to being the generalist I am and hire a roof specialist. If I were to become a specialist, I'd need to learn about roofs, through either reading, school, or on the job training, and I'd need to know about roof materials and tools. As a generalist I need a different set of skills to get the job done. The skills I've used so far are finding and hiring a qualified roofer, the ability to interview candidates and assess the various proposals, read and negotiate contracts, and understand the legal liability of roofing contractors. While the job is underway I have had to use my listening and translation/analysis skills, so I can translate their diagnosis of the problems in to the reality of possible solutions, costs, schedules, threats and impact to the other systems in my house (chimney, air vents and gutters).
This month's issue of Elements tackles the topic of being a generalist. It includes a quiz you can take to determine your natural level of generalism or specialism, some quotes, and a list of skills for a successful generalist.
G for generalist has been one of the most challenging Elements newsletters for me to write. Each industry reflects the issue of being a generalist or specialist, and most introductory career or decision-making material is all geared towards that: being a General Practitioner or a Specialist, getting an MBA or studying a particular branch of business in depth, being a Human Resources Generalist or Specialist. My approach has been to generalize the topic of being a generalist and not apply it to any specific area. However, based on many discussions and feedback I have had about this topic, the application of this material holds true in many different fields and endeavors.
As you will hear more about later, G is also for "Goals." One of my personal goals is to run the 7-mile Falmouth Road Race in August in support of the American Stroke Association. If you would like to contribute please click here:
www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=275487&supid=219969494
Something to ponder: Are you a specialist in being a generalist, or are you a generalist because you haven't yet found your specialty yet?
Star
PS - it was the chimney not the roof that needed repair! |
|
Generalist or Specialist Quiz
 Are you a natural generalist or specialist? Or just pretending to be one or the other because you haven't figured out what you want to be when you grow up? Your culture and the environment you spend most of your time in will influence your choice. Answer these questions based on your personal preference and not on what you think the answer should be for your individual situation. Award yourself points for each answer.
2 = Always, 1 = Sometimes, 0 = Never
1. "To do" lists that I make are not complete.
2. Chaos is exhilarating, challenging, interesting and can be fun!
3. If I am doing a task I need to know how it fits into a bigger vision and if there isn't one, I have to find out what it is or make it up.
4. Decision making and problem solving are challenging because I can see so many possibilities and ways to move forward.
5. Puttering and dabbling are fun and something I try to regularly engage in.
6. I spend hours researching and chasing interesting stuff across multiple disciplines and areas of interest.
7. I get bored easily and my eyes will glaze over on too many details.
8. When I learn new ideas and theories I try to see the practical side to them.
9. Metaphors, analogies and stories with meanings are fun and I'm good at recognizing and communicating them.
10. I have current knowledge and skills in a variety of diverse areas.
(0-6) Specialist - A true specialist by nature! Considered to be an expert, you are a person sought out in your field of knowledge. Seek to become known as the expert. You can spend hours, days, a lifetime devoted to your area. A new growth area for you can be to learn to respect the generalist and their skills which are different from your own. The generalist can pave the way to expand your knowledge by adding resources and different areas for consideration that may cause a breakthrough in your own thinking.
(7-13) A little of both - A well balanced place to be, knowing just the right amount of knowledge and how to apply it. Consider learning and moving further into either the generalist approach or a specialist area to explore where it takes you.
(14-20) Generalist - A true generalist by nature! Embrace your generalist! Spread the word and the advantages of being a generalist. Find a way to describe your talents and promote them. Don't be embarrassed because you may not be perfect and don't know everything or all the specifics. Keep your varied skills current and know that the specific skills you may need now and over time will undoubtedly change. You can benefit by taking the specialist into account, knowing that they have the knowledge you may someday need.
Bottom line: Generalists need specialists and specialists need generalists. Know your own natural strengths and respect each other's ability. |
General Skills for Generalist
 Being a generalist requires a set of skills for successful generalizing! In general, the skills are softer and less tangible. Below is a generic list of generalist skills which can vary across culture, environment and situation. This list is based on observations from personal experience, and in my practice of coaching and training leaders and managers.
Curiosity - the ability to see beyond what is already there, to ask questions that expand thinking and create a new way of viewing something. These "curiosity" questions are ones that can't be answered easily, ones that require stopping and thinking about it.
Vision - If a vision already exists, the skill is having the ability to understand it, what it means and how to align each thought and action of your team to the vision along with you. If a vision doesn't exist, a generalist knows how to create one that works. A generalist also knows when a vision just doesn't work anymore and may be in need of updating or re-creating.
Balance and Priority - A generalist knows when enough is enough, when to take action, what's important and when to do more research. A generalist also knows when to stop because more effort equals low or no return. The interrelatedness of the tasks is clear to a generalist, and the relationship of the tasks to the vision, also when to switch context from one priority or area to another - these are all generalist skills.
Current and Updated -Successful generalists know what areas they must have knowledge in themselves, so they can ask the right questions and align tasks and priorities. They also know how deep their knowledge needs to be in any given area, and how to stay current in this area if they need to. Being perfect or being an expert is not the goal for generalists. They are also aware of the limits of their knowledge and know when to consult with or bring in a specialist.
Connections/Meaning Making - Generalists don't limit themselves to traditional thinking. Just because something is done one way and has always been done that way, doesn't mean it is right or that there is not a better way to do it now! They are always considering why something is the way it is and looking to find meaning and connections in what often appear to be unrelated areas. For example, sport metaphors are often used to describe business strategies. Another example is the thinking behind a peer of mine who is using archetypes to design Museum exhibits that are coherent and appeal to all of our senses. See http://www.exhibitsmatter.com/home.asp for more information.
Decision Making/Problem Solving - Using a variety of skills such as collaboration, research, listening, analysis, inspiring others, and more, generalists are able to pull all the possible solutions, impacts, costs and results out before making a decision or solving a problem in a timely way. They know when to stop to analyze and when to move forward, and that no decision is 100% perfect. They know when a decision or problem may need to be revisited.
Communication - Generalists thrive on the diversity and potential of people the same way that they thrive on the possibility of new ideas and solutions. They know how to inspire, to see potential and to get the best out of each individual. The specific communication skills that enable them as generalists are: creating spontaneous and effective dialogue, and building on, incorporating and adding to a discussion, being able to summarize and articulate the true core of a complex topic or complex conversation, translating and making shared meaning of apparently diverse points of view. |
Generalist Quotes
 None of the great discoveries was made by a 'specialist' or a 'researcher.'
Martin H. Fischer
Do not be bullied out of your common sense by the specialist; two to one, he is a pedant.Oliver Wendell Holmes
Every man gets a narrower and narrower field of knowledge in which he must be an expert in order to compete with other people. The specialist knows more and more about less and less and finally knows everything about nothing. Konrad Lorenz
A specialist is someone who does everything else worse. Ruggiero Ricci
The trouble with specialists is that they tend to think in grooves. Elaine Morgan
What a delightful thing is the conversation of specialist! One understands absolutely nothing and it's charming.Edward Degas
Specialists are people who always repeat the same mistakes.Walter Gropius
Generalists should be the upbeat, positive people in the profession while specialists should be their grouchy, negative counterparts. Karl Weick |
| G is also for Important Goals: Raising Money for the American Stroke Association
I have taken on an exciting challenge: I will be running the Falmouth Road Race on August 10, 2008 as a member of Tedy's Team and the American Stroke Association.
As many of you know, Tedy Bruschi of the New England Patriots, suffered a stroke in February 2005. After his recovery, he committed himself to being an advocate, spokesperson, and inspiration for stroke survivors in our area. I have chosen to complete this event for him and to complete it for me.
The Falmouth Road Race is a 7-mile run along the beautiful coast of Cape Cod. While the race will feature some of the world's elite runners, my goal is to simply complete the event! When I cross the finish line, regardless of my time, I will know that I have done my part in the effort to fight stroke.
Our team of 60 participants (in honor of Tedy's number on the field) has a goal for this event of $60,000 (or $1,000 each). Any help you can give is appreciated. Every dollar I raise will help further stroke research and education.
I thank you in advance for your support in this challenge. To make a donation, please simply click on my personal fundraising link:
www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=275487&supid=219969494
or send a check to me written out to the American Stroke Association. I will be contacting everyone after the race to let you know how I made out!
With your tax-deductible contribution to the American Stroke Association, you are supporting an incredible cause, helping to make a positive difference in my life and the lives of many others, and supporting Tedy's Team in the fight against stroke! My fundraising deadline is August 1. | |
|
|
|
|
|
