Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
All of the strength’s finder stuff, it gives people license to pigeonhole themselves or others in way that don’t take into account how much we grow and evolve. -Herminia Ibarra
In his new book, RANGE: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, David Epstein makes the case for abandoning specialization, changing careers, and developing hobbies. David emphasizes the importance of “match quality” over popular ideas, such as grit and the 10,000 hour rule. Here are 7 reasons to broaden your own range for greater professional success.
1. Preparation for wicked environments. Theories on excellence and specialization often come from the study of “kind” environments. A kind environment is predictable, static, and carefully controlled. Chess, violin, and a golf swing are skills for kind environments. Preparation for kind environments is typically repetitive and clinical, while preparation for wicked environments is dynamic. Wicked skills include tennis, soccer, and business. Delaying specialization and investing in dynamic preparation over a wide range of skills can make for long-term success in wicked skills. This is why Tiger Woods thrived on playing golf since the age of 2, while Roger Federer was served by playing several sports through his childhood.
2. Generation effect. Sets of rules for problem solving can be seductive. If I just apply this formula.… There are many problems that don’t fit a set of rules and too many dynamic problems. The best strategy is to come up with your own rules. Test different approaches and models on the same problem. Not only does this give you more chances for success, coming up with a problem solving strategy on your creates a “generation effect.” This means that struggling to come up with an answer, even a wrong answer, enhances learning.
3. Perverse conclusions. When your data set is too small you can get bizarre results. Epstein has pointed out that within the NBA height is inversely correlated with success. Does that mean you want to make your basketball playing child shorter for the sake of his future? No, the NBA is a very small sample of already tall men. For a more personal example, you love your job making widgets, then you get promoted to management. You grow to hate your job. Should you conclude that management isn’t for you? Maybe you were just stressed by the conflict of managing people who used to be your peers. Perhaps you’d be great for management in another company.
4. Match quality. What if you were told to pick your spouse and settle in at the age of 17? It might not be the best match. So, why do we insist that 17 year-old high school students pick a college major, stick to that major, and make a career of it? The generalist who bounces around to different fields has a longer “sampling period” than the specialist. The generalist is trying on careers the way many people date before picking their spouse. The generalist has a better chance of finding a good match. In career, when match quality is high, most other factors will fall into place too.
5. The beginner’s mind. A fresh mental perspective is invaluable. It’s paradoxical that as we are steeped in a profession or practice it serves us to look at things as though we’ve just started. David devotes a chapter of Range to people who exercise their minds by approaching things with fresh eyes, he calls them “Deliberate amateurs.”
6. Covering galaxies. In my interview with David, he explained how he’s noticed siloing of departments within corporations. For example, he sees sales departments and marketing departments operating with little understanding between them. David suggests that these people in these periodically switch departments. The idea is that specialized knowledge must eventually be translated to people outside the specialty to make it useful. Otherwise, specialized knowledge will become like galaxies spreading further and further since the Big Bang. David writes, “How can frontiers be pushed… if one day it will take a lifetime just to reach them in each specialized domain?” Generalists can create the bridge between galaxies that keeps information relevant and valuable.
7. Zero sum competition. I look up to have carved out there own fields. David’s research background helped him to stand out a sports science writer. In this interview author Robert Greene explains how his love of his history helped him to craft a unique form of self-help writing. The benefits of standing out in a class of your own are enormous because you are spared from zero-sum competition.
To read more, check out Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein.