I’m so inspired by this post. I’m a generalist and often find that it’s a barrier to progression. I’m not a teacher or a lawyer or a doctor etc etc. but what I can do is manage an organisations people, money, buildings, resources, programmes and performance. Exactly like you describe!!!
I became a chartered manager with the CMI (chartered management institute in the UK) for this very reason!
Hi Lucy, I'm enjoying this series, this edition is definitely for me, I'm a generalist (although I prefer the term Octopus) and can definitely see how these skills will be important in the future. AI is taking/disrupting specialist jobs more than generalist jobs, even jobs that seemed untouchable and valuable like software engineering. We're still living in a specialist focused world though, so it is harder to find a job as a generalist, but I think that's changing.
Awesome to hear Xandra - you're very much not alone there, and it feels like there is a real need for identity and definition to help generalists express their value! Glad you found it helpful.
I've always been a generalist but it's taken me years to realise that it's a superpower. So happy that I now know that it's a massive strength!
I’m so inspired by this post. I’m a generalist and often find that it’s a barrier to progression. I’m not a teacher or a lawyer or a doctor etc etc. but what I can do is manage an organisations people, money, buildings, resources, programmes and performance. Exactly like you describe!!!
I became a chartered manager with the CMI (chartered management institute in the UK) for this very reason!
Thanks so much for sharing Nia!
I’m LOVING this series. Thank you
Our absolute pleasure!
Hi Lucy, I'm enjoying this series, this edition is definitely for me, I'm a generalist (although I prefer the term Octopus) and can definitely see how these skills will be important in the future. AI is taking/disrupting specialist jobs more than generalist jobs, even jobs that seemed untouchable and valuable like software engineering. We're still living in a specialist focused world though, so it is harder to find a job as a generalist, but I think that's changing.
Haha love the term Octopus, and thanks for sharing Dave! How do you see the octopus metaphor in practice?
Awesome to hear Xandra - you're very much not alone there, and it feels like there is a real need for identity and definition to help generalists express their value! Glad you found it helpful.