Generalists FTW

The guy who originally came up with “jack of all trades, master of none, but often times better than a master of one” wrote it to throw shade at William Shakespeare.

Many leaders and hiring managers seeking talent will convince themselves of the need for a super-specialist.

Everyone from HR to recruiting is highly collaborative including a dozen narrow specialties in a job description.

Later on, that can turn into a strait-jacket when recruiting and staffing for business challenges which are complex, evolving, and ambiguous.

There is a lane for well-rounded people who have experience in more than one specialty: generalists.

To write his plays, Shakespeare drew on his experiences as an actor, poet, and part owner of a theater company, as well as his knowledge of Latin, agriculture, and politics.

He had a deep understanding of human nature and was highly articulate, with a wide and flexible vocabulary.

Generalists FTW…to thine own self be true.

“Believe then, if you please, that I can do strange things.”