In Today’s rapidly changing world, people often find themselves needing to adapt to new situations and environments. The job market is no exception, and it’s becoming increasingly common for employers to seek out employees with a broad range of skills and abilities. These people are often referred to as “generalists,” as opposed to “specialists” who focus on a specific area of expertise. In this blog post, I’d like to explore how being a generalist can actually help you succeed in a specific function.

First, let’s define what we mean by “generalist.” A generalist is someone who has a broad range of skills and knowledge in multiple areas, rather than a deep level of expertise in one specific area. They are often able to see connections and patterns between seemingly unrelated fields and can bring a unique perspective to problem-solving.

So how can being a generalist help you succeed in a specific function? Here are a few ways:

1. Adaptability. Generalists are typically more adaptable than specialists, as they have experience working in a variety of different roles and environments. They are used to learning new skills quickly and often, but most important to apply their knowledge from one area to another. This means that if they are asked to take on a new task or responsibility within their specific function, they are more likely to be able to adapt quickly and effectively. One example from my own experience comes from working on Operations in different kinds of projects and companies, (being clear about operations meaning standardization, processes definition, and growth through performance), some of these projects are company-wide and cover scope from different areas, some of this projects more focused on revenue operations, another one in financial operations, and the most recent ones in product operations. The learnings from different areas of application for similar kinds of standards of operations represent in a better way how adaptable is the knowledge with a generalist perspective.
2. Cross-functional collaboration. Generalists are often great collaborators, as they are used to working with people from a variety of different backgrounds and disciplines. They can bring a unique perspective to discussions and can help bridge gaps between different departments or teams. This can be especially helpful in complex projects where different areas of expertise are needed. And just to be resonant enough to help and bring an outside-of-the-box perspective to the conversation.
3. Innovation. Generalists are often able to see connections and patterns between seemingly unrelated fields. This can lead to innovative ideas and solutions that specialists may not have thought of. By bringing a fresh perspective to a specific function, generalists can help drive innovation and creativity within a company. Most of this innovative approach comes from a “connecting the dots” approach of learning from different and diverse experiences and how something could be useful in another one.
4. Communication skills. Generalists are often great communicators, as they are used to explaining complex ideas to people from a variety of different backgrounds. They are able to break down complex concepts into simple terms, making them easier for others to understand. This can be especially helpful in a specific function where clear communication is key to success. Having an understanding of technical approach from different persons and specialist allow generalist to convert that message into a business language understandable by a broader audience.
5. Leadership potential. Generalists often have a range of skills that can make them great leaders. They are adaptable, innovative, and great communicators. They are used to working with people from a variety of different backgrounds and can bring a unique perspective to discussions. These skills can be invaluable when it comes to leading a team or project within a specific function.

Of course, there are also some challenges to being a generalist. For example, it can be difficult to gain the deep level of expertise that a specialist might have in a specific area. However, by leveraging their broad range of skills and knowledge, generalists can still be highly effective in a specific function.

In conclusion, being a generalist can actually be an asset when it comes to succeeding in a specific function. Generalists are adaptable, great collaborators, innovative, effective communicators, and have leadership potential. By bringing a unique perspective to problem-solving and leveraging their broad range of skills, generalists can help drive innovation and success within a company. So if you’re a generalist looking to make a career change or take on a new challenge, don’t be afraid to apply for a specific function. Your unique set of skills may be just what the company needs to succeed.