Become a Specializing Generalist
Author: Jurgen Appelo
You’ve probably seen the revolutionary impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on various domains, reshaping the work of teams and modifying the roles of specialists and generalists. But what we’ve seen so far is only the beginning!
For a few decades, coaches and consultants (particularly in the Agile community) promoted the need for “generalizing specialists” (or “T-skilled people”) in self-organizing teams—individuals deeply skilled in one area but also capable of contributing in one or two other disciplines. However, driven by AI, the wind is now blowing in another direction.
As ChatGPT, Copilot, Midjourney, and other AI tools specialize in distinct areas (what many refer to as “narrow AI”), we see confirmed that AI systems are gradually assuming the roles of specialists. Week after week, we see reports about text writers, designers, illustrators, programmers, and other specialists losing work because AI tools are steadily taking over (parts of) their jobs.
As a result, the spotlight is now on individuals who can synthesize knowledge from multiple disciplines. We can refer to them as “specializing generalists” or “M-skilled people.” Such individuals are increasingly becoming the most invaluable human assets in teams, acting as temporary specialists in multiple domains, making connections between these specializations, and thereby fostering interdisciplinary innovation. They are in high demand because they are cross-functional people, not cross-functional teams.
This evolution is fueled by the continuous reduction in the halftime of knowledge, which makes traditional functional departments obsolete. Just consider: search engine optimizers were displaced by social media marketers, and social media marketers are now displaced by AI prompt engineers. Next, the AI prompt engineers will be replaced by … what? We don’t know yet. But post-2023, few specialists should take their jobs for granted. It’s better to be a temporary specialist in several domains, knowing that you’ll have to move on to a new opportunity within a few years.
This is also why many Bitcoin/crypto experts seem to have become ChatGPT/gen-AI experts overnight. M-skilled people quickly migrate from one specialist domain to another.
“There will be a greater emphasis on soft skills such as creativity, emotional intelligence, and the ability to collaborate and bring ideas together. This is where human touch will play an irreplaceable role and where generalists will thrive.”
— “The Future of Work in an AI-Driven World” - Jayaprakash
Narrow and generative AI relieves specialists of many routine and monotonous tasks, which frees them to concentrate on more complex challenges that require human intuition, creativity, and decisive thinking. The new organizational focus should be on teams filled with M-skilled (cross-functional) people who can connect the dots between multiple disciplines.
If you want to move in that direction, check out the Teaming Options, Collaboration Moments, Habit-Forming, Human Drives, and Role Attributes patterns.
