The Newfound Power of Jack-of-All-Trades Executives in the C-Suite
In the fast-paced business world, the old-school, specialized executive is becoming obsolete. Today, a new breed of leaders is emerging: the generalist. These guys aren't just skilled in one area; they've got a broad range of talents, enabling them to connect ideas, adapt to change, and drive innovation across organizations.
According to a Deloitte study, companies are beefing up their C-suites by adding more roles and expanding the responsibilities of existing executives. Over a five-year period, the number of skills executives are asked to possess for leadership roles increased by more than 20%.
Having a generalist mindset makes leaders more adaptable, innovative, and effective at navigating challenges. They understand how different business functions fit together, identify trends, and make decisions that benefit the whole organization. And it's not just C-suiters who can benefit; at the leadership level, they need to shape the organization's direction, not just their function.
Gareth Mandel, a senior executive who's worked with companies like eHarmony and ParshipMeet Group, knows this all too well. He points out that employees used to be rewarded for having deep knowledge of a single topic. But, Mandel learned the opposite. Being industry, company, and function agnostic prepares you for the diverse demands of a senior executive.
Unfortunately, many organizations haven't caught onto this yet. Traditional leadership career tracks and training programs often focus on pairing technical skills or industry-specific knowledge with rote management techniques, neglecting broader capabilities that help leaders connect the dots and drive alignment. Mandel warns that developing generalist skills is no longer a luxury – it's a necessity for those in the C-suite.
So, what skills should senior executives develop to prepare for the multidimensional needs of their roles? According to Mandel, they should focus on:
- Curiosity: Generalist leaders are driven by a hunger for knowledge and a desire to understand how things work. They ask questions, explore new ideas, and challenge conventional wisdom.
- Pattern Recognition: By drawing from a wide array of experiences, generalists can more quickly spot patterns and connections across different domains, helping them anticipate trends, solve complex problems, and develop innovative solutions.
- Insight Generation: By combining diverse knowledge and perspectives, generalist leaders can generate fresh insights that specialists can't uncover. They challenge assumptions, connect disparate ideas, and identify opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Flexibility/Agility: The business world is changing faster than ever, and agility is crucial. Generalist leaders can quickly adapt to new situations, embrace change, and pivot strategies as needed.
- Empathy: Generalist leaders understand the importance of building strong relationships. They listen to different perspectives, understand others' needs, and build consensus around shared goals.
- Vulnerability: Being comfortable admitting what you don't know and seeking input from others is key. Generalist leaders are willing to admit their ignorance and focus on continuous learning, fostering a culture of collaboration.
- Comfort with Uncertainty: Generalist leaders thrive in ambiguous situations and are able to make decisions even when information is incomplete. They embrace risk, experiment, and learn from their mistakes.
- Perspective Taking: By understanding the perspectives of different stakeholders, generalist leaders can build consensus, resolve conflicts, and create solutions that meet everyone's needs.
- Globalism: In today's interconnected business world, navigating different cultures and commercial dynamics is essential. Generalist leaders are skilled at this, making them valuable in organizations, regardless of where they're based.
To be a successful generalist senior leader, you'll need to package your skills and experiences strategically. Instead of focusing on specific industry expertise, emphasize the breadth and depth of your exposure to cross-functional aspects of the business. Showcase projects where you successfully integrated marketing insights with financial planning or leveraged operational efficiencies to improve customer experience. Quantify your impact whenever possible, demonstrating how your generalist perspective led to tangible results, like increased revenue, improved profitability, strategic expansion, or enhanced employee engagement and performance capabilities.
When interviews come around, be prepared to articulate your unique value proposition as a generalist leader. Frame your experiences as evidence of your adaptability, curiosity, and ability to learn quickly. Share stories that illustrate your capacity to synthesize information from diverse sources, identify underlying patterns, and generate innovative solutions. Highlight your communication and collaboration skills, emphasizing your ability to build consensus and foster a shared understanding across different teams.
By showcasing your generalist skills in a compelling and authentic way, you can differentiate yourself from other candidates and demonstrate your potential to drive transformative change in any organization. For Mandel, the best generalist executives are those who "find the organization that needs and values the mindset and skills" they bring to the table.
Onboarding into a senior leadership role offers a unique advantage for generalists, as their broad understanding of various organizational functions and challenges promotes cross-functional collaboration. Unlike specialists, who typically have deep expertise in a specific area, generalists possess a versatile skill set that allows them to connect the dots across different departments.
But, being a generalist senior executive can be demanding, leading to burnout if not managed properly. Generalist leaders need to think efficiently, knowing what strikes at the core of a need and what is tangential. Mandel suggests that intentional breaks and opportunities for recharging are crucial to counteract mental fatigue, allowing you to continue operating at your best.
As AI continues to master the tactical job responsibilities of the workforce, the need for a generalist-capable senior leader will only grow. The shift of the human-side of work requires a leader who can navigate ambiguity, multi-cultural workplaces, and carve a future path for the organization's success.
- In the swiftly evolving business landscape, the traditional specialist executive is being overshadowed by a new breed: the generalist leader.
- According to Deloitte's research, companies are strengthening their C-suites by broadening the roles and responsibilities of senior executives.
- Developing a generalist mindset is increasingly vital for senior executives, as it enhances their adaptability, innovation, and effectiveness in navigating challenges.
- Senior executives should focus on skills such as curiosity, pattern recognition, insight generation, flexibility, empathy, vulnerability, comfort with uncertainty, perspective taking, globalism, and efficient thinking to meet the multidimensional demands of their roles.
- Upon onboarding into a senior leadership role, generalist leaders can foster cross-functional collaboration due to their broad understanding of various organizational functions and challenges.
- Regular intentional breaks and opportunities for recharging can help counteract mental fatigue experienced by generalist senior executives, ensuring they continue to operate at their best.
