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Rethinking specialization: The return of the generalist
Breaking Down Siloes and Becoming Cross-Functional Enablers is the Future of UX
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Reexamining our emphasis on specialization
In his book Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, David Epstein shared his learnings after studying a variety of highly successful athletes, musicians, inventors, and scientists. Surprisingly, in most fields, he found that generalists, not specialists, are set up for success. Generalists often find their paths later in life, taking time to cultivate and explore many interests and experiences rather than focusing on a narrow subset. Based on their wider exposure, Epstein found that often generalists are more creative, agile, and able to make connections that their specialized peers can’t see.
Epstein’s findings push back against recent trends of increasing specialization. Racing against the clock, parents often enroll their children in sports at younger ages and force them to specialize earlier and earlier, often to the detriment of their physical health. Some colleges require students to declare majors by the end of freshman year, and it feels like many jobs require extensive, specialized experience even for entry-level roles.