Ask yourself this question: “Should I hire and nurture generalists or specialists to foster innovation in my organization?” The 21st century answer better be “Yes. I hired one just yesterday!”
There is much debate about whether the generalist or the specialist is a better leader for innovative communities and organizations. Most of this debate is simply a waste of time. The problem is that we tend to frame the issue as an arbitrary, either/or question, an issue of specialists or generalists. Doing this obviously leads to arbitrary, either/or answers because the question itself makes arbitrary and often useless distinctions. A better way to answer this question in a world of innovation, change, and constant paradigm-shifting, is to say: “Yes, of course organizations need specialists and generalists – but in the same person.”
To read the original article: Innovation: Time to Ditch "Model T Leadership" - Forbes
