Jack of All Trades – Master of Some?
I often hear clients say, with deep frustration:
“I’m nearly 30/40/50 and I STILL haven’t found MY THING!”
After a bit of exploring, they realise that what they mean by ‘my thing’ is a specialist career - doctor, builder, care-worker, teacher, engineer - something in which they can become ‘expert’.
But for many, after a coaching session or two, it turns out that specializing is not what they actually want.
They just haven’t yet come to terms with the fact that they are a generalist.
These people tend to…
enjoy a number of different roles in a range of organisations and sectors over their career
adapt well to new contexts
learn quickly, often using their intuition
be people-oriented, with strong relational, communication and leadership skills
I’m generalising (excuse the pun), but you get the gist.
Because maybe this is you? Or someone you know.
Here are 3 of the unhelpful narratives that can impact a generalist’s thoughts and feelings about their job/career:
I’ll never be an ‘expert’
They might think about people like Marie Curie, Leonardo da Vinci, Jane Austen or Cristiano Ronaldo (yes, quite a high bar!), all experts in their fields and known for their specific, measurable and significant contributions. Or they may look at friends who are specialists - accountants, police officers, care-workers, scientists, builders - and wonder, “What exactly is it that I’m contributing to the world?”
General skills are not good enough
This is a particular problem for those who’ve grown up in a family where everyone is a nurse, artist, professor, engineer or historian. If all we’ve seen are examples of specialists, it can be hard to imagine how our work life could look different. Family narratives around this stuff can get in the way of knowing what we truly want and can leave us feeling ‘less than.’
I won’t leave a legacy
If my contribution to the world is spread across different organisations, people and spheres through the course of my career, who will remember me or what I contributed? If we’re honest, most of us want to be remembered, recognised, or at least feel that our contribution amounted to something.
So, for you generalists out there (and any specialists who want to encourage them), here are my 3 encouraging responses to those narratives…plus a cheeky bonus one!
1. You ARE an expert…
…in adaptability, thinking on your feet, learning new skills, getting on with people, change, communication, management (of self, if not also others). These are all excellent things to have on your CV. What else could you add to this list?
2. You are not just ‘good enough’ - you are highly valuable
Your broad skills and experience are essential in our interconnected world, with its complex issues to solve that require collaboration and big-picture thinking. Your breadth of knowledge enables you to understand the world from a wide variety of perspectives and to use your transferrable skills to add value in a range of contexts.
3. Your legacy is assured
By the end of your career, you’ll likely have worked with multiple teams in multiple organisations in multiple roles. The contribution you make in each of these places is important to those you impact. When you’re on your deathbed, you will know that you’ve added something to many people’s lives through your expert soft skills.
4. Variety may be the spice of life!
Ask yourself:
Do I want to do the same job for the next 20/30 years, or do I want a more varied career?
Do I want to focus on a particular expertise or take roles that draw on a wide range of skills?
There are no right or wrong answers to these questions…but your answers will give you a clue about whether you want the kind of variety that a generalist career brings.
How’s It Looking Out There?
We’re currently living with a post-pandemic, constantly evolving job market which increasingly favours those with a broad range of skills who can adapt to new environments and challenges. In our technological, hybrid-working, climate emergency world, employers are looking for people who can manage change and work well with others to find collaborative solutions.
And the Specialists?
Of course, we need specialists too, particularly in environments where the desired outcome is clear and set. If I need heart surgery, I’m renovating my house or am going to a live gig, I really need whoever is serving me to be a specialist in their field. And it’s obvious that, on a global scale, we’re lost without the doctors, climate scientists, tech innovators and data analysts.
What Next?
Whether generalist or specialist, we each must choose our own road. And, as my title suggests - ‘Jack of all trades – master of some’ - it may be a mixture both.
Who do you know who might benefit from reading this article? Why not share it as an encouragement? And if you’re ready to make a change in your job or career, I’d love to support you in that process. Together we can explore all the possibilities so that you can take your next steps on your chosen pathway.
info@lizogborne.coach
Reflection Questions for Generalists:
What skills, experience and wisdom do I bring to the roles I fulfil – at home and work?
What would I need to let go of to truly celebrate my contribution as a generalist?
How can I talk to others about my skills and career in a confident and positive way?
Recommended reading: ‘Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World’ by David Epstein
Credit for blog title: Kumar Abhishek’s article in Forbes online Leadership section: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2021/03/12/generalists-versus-specialists-the-winner-doesnt-take-it-all/?sh=7ddf55c5e63a