curiosity

Curiosity Leads to Generalist

As we are driven by genuine interest to curiosity and that leads to learning, inevitably we will widen out our knowledge and experience base.

Actually being a generalist (good at a lot) is sort of being a specialist. Seth Godin uses the idea of a Swiss Army knife. It does a lot of different things and therefore is specific.

This learning builds in flexibility. Nimbleness. Ability to respond “no problem” with most requests.

As knowledge sharing increases and organizations become more decentralized, it will be less important to be singly specific. It’ll be more important that we all become generally specific. Good at a lot so we can take the knowledge easily accessible and find a way to apply it effectively.

It’s less about what you have and more how you apply knowledge or information in general.

Inspired by Seth Godin Akimbo podcast episode “Go Invent Something” Q and A at the end.

Data I found through Harvard Business Review which points to generalist being more able to apply knowledge than specialists.

Curiosity Needs Time and Space

Continually learning and growing is key to staying engaged in work, succeeding professionally, being our best.

We cannot expect to fill our entire day with back to back meetings or project time and learn most effectively.

We need at least a little time and space. Not hours on end to read a book, but maybe. Not years in a career to complete a degree, but maybe.

I’m more so talking about 15 minutes after a meeting to reflect and grow. 5 minutes to let your head dream and drift. 30 minutes to journal or write each day.

I’m also not just talking about time. A workspace that allows for you to observe and see things clearly. Rhythms in your day that set you up for clarity. Relationships that challenge you beyond the what did you do but how did you feel, what does that mean for where you’re going.

For example, I’m trying to schedule each day with at least 30 minutes outside of lunch to sit in my comfy chair and read or think. I also start my day with 5 minutes of mediation. I end my work day with 15 minutes of journaling at a separate desk in my office designed for analog processing…think big paper, post it notes, colored sharpies, and scissors.

Of course we can learn even in the midst of back to back but I find I learn best with a little time and space. And I find I have to fight for that time and space…or at least proactively set it up.