Flag

We stand with Ukraine and our team members from Ukraine. Here are ways you can help

Get exclusive access to thought-provoking articles, bonus podcast content, and cutting-edge whitepapers. Become a member of the UX Magazine community today!

Home ›› Design ›› Mastery for Generalists

Mastery for Generalists

by David Hoang
5 min read
Share this post on
Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Save

Becoming good when you’re interested in everything

When I was the Product team at One Medical, our clinical and Ops teams were critical partners in how we shipped work. It was common to visit the offices to observe (going to gemba). During my four years at the health tech company, I learned about the various roles on clinical teams: primary care providers, registered nurses, care navigators, specialists, phlebotomists, and many more. In my research work, I spent the majority of the time with primary care providers (generalists).

“Why did you decide to be a generalist instead of a specialist?”, I’d ask each provider. What compelled them to general care vs. being a specialist. Primary care physicians experience more burnout and specialists make more money. The truth is you make more money as a specialists, so what would compel someone to general care. The answer was consistent: to have a broader range to care for their patients’ health.

The path for specialists is more clear than generalists. If one chooses the generalist path, what does mastery look like? The notion of mastery as a generalist sounds oxymoronic. Let’s challenge that and identify how to grow in your craft in a generalist role. In order to master being a generalist, let’s reflect on how to know if you are a generalist, the impact they make, and leveling up as generalist practitioners.

You might be a generalist…

If you grew up in the 90s and experiencing lower back pain, you may remember comedian Jeff Foxworthy’s “You might be a redneck” routine: “If you’ve been on the television more than five times describing what the tornado sounds like, you might be a redneck.” We can remix that and play it back with being a generalist:

  • If you can’t decide if you want to be a product manager, designer, or engineer, you might be a generalist
  • If you find yourself always wanting to learn new things outside of what you do, you might be a generalist
  • If you highly enjoy collaborating with every department, you might be a generalist
  • If you get excited about trying out emerging technology and tools, you might be a generalist
  • If you get bored by doing one thing, you might be a generalist
  • If you’re comfortable hiring people better than you at everything, you might be a generalist

Generalists are people who love variety, connecting the dots, and curious. In contrast, specialists usually focus and go deeper on a certain practice. I use the clinical metaphor above a lot when describing generalists and specialists. A brain surgeon could conduct a physical if needed the same way a primary care provider could do certain operations in the case of an emergency. However, based on the level of skill and precision, a specialist is more effective. Every designer can contribute to a design system and having a specialist in design systems will merit in more effective outcomes.

Why be a generalist?

Drawing of octopus holding a stack of paper, pen, phone and chart representing being a generalist

“Jack of all trades, master of none” can sound negative—almost implying one isn’t good at anything. Do you ever feel like you don’t fit into a specialty? Being a generalist allows flexibility and have broader range in what you can do. This is a great skill for early stage startups when wearing multiple hats is common. As the company grows, it’ll specialize at scale, and it makes sense. You don’t want your generalist co-founder to continue being responsible for people experience or finance and bring in the specialists. What happens to people who when they relinquish the said hats? You’re able to freelance and move around more. There might be a new initiative that needs to get spun up. If you’re interested in management, many people managers are generalists. 

Generalists spark alchemy

In the article “Generalists CEOs Not Specialists Spur Innovation,” there is a great excerpt on how generalist spark innovation:

“Under generalist CEOs, companies tend to engage in more ‘exploitative’ innovation, which involves improving or refining something that already exists, and also more ‘exploratory’ innovation — that is, engaging in a risky search for radical and transformative innovation. However, the difference between specialist CEOs and generalists is especially pronounced in exploratory innovation.”

You don’t see many specialist CEOs unless the business does something specific to it. A generalist can start an important initiative and collaborate with specialists to drastically improve it.

Building mastery as a generalist

Mastery for Generalists

“Mastery as a generalist” is an oxymoron, but let’s embrace the duality. How does one become a better generalist? Great teams need a blend of generalists and specialists.

Be an expert at learning

If there’s one specialty a generalist has, it’s learning to learn. Build familiarity in a discipline enough to understand the mechanics, develop experience, and when it scales, find a specialist. If you’ve ever had a manager who understands what you do because they’ve done it before, they can build more advocacy for the effort of your work. A designer understanding how the software development cycle works can anticipate questions that come up. 

Understand every role

I’ve worked in so many aspects of design: UI Designer, Information Architect, Marketing Designer, Motion Designer, Researcher, or Product Designer, I’ve worked in dozens of roles. Understanding everyone’s roles and responsibilities helps you influence at a higher scale since you have a sense of what everyone is doing. It allows you to give better input and direction.

Build connective skills

Understand how every org works and connecting the dots across them. One of the services I was most passionate at while at One Medical was pediatrics and family practice. Whenever I had a coffee break or free time, I’d make time to connect with people who were passionate about that program and ways to support it. Learn how to synthesize, story tell, and connect to the big picture.

Mastering the generalist path means everyone will be better than you at something, but you’re better than everyone at every little thing.

Being a generalist does not mean the work is shallow. It’s right sizing the amount of up skill needed to get the job done. If the path of a generalist resonates with you, continue diversifying your skill portfolio and extend your range.

post authorDavid Hoang

David Hoang

David is a product designer, angel investor and writer focused on building products, companies, and teams. He is currently Head of Product Design at Webflow and previously led design at One Medical, Black Pixel, and founded his own product consultancy. He has an affinity for design/developer tools, two-sided marketplaces, and software that is impactful for consumers and enterprise. His areas of focus are generative research, prototyping, building scaling design teams, and new initiatives. In his free time, David angel invests and advises for early stage startups. He taught User Experience at General Assembly and previously guest lecutred at institutions including The Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design, The University of Washington, Duke University, and Hyper Island. He currently resides in California.

Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print
Ideas In Brief
  • Generalists are people who love variety, connecting the dots, and curious. In contrast, specialists usually focus and go deeper on a certain practice.
  • In his article, the author identifies how to grow in your craft in a generalist role.
  • The author gives advice on how to become a better generalist:
    • Be an expert at learning
    • Understand every role
    • Build connective skills

Related Articles

AI is reshaping the role of designers, shifting them from creators to curators. This article explores how AI tools are changing design workflows, allowing designers to focus more on strategy and user experience. Discover how this shift is revolutionizing the design process and the future of creative work.

Article by Andy Budd
The Future of Design: How AI Is Shifting Designers from Makers to Curators
  • This article examines how AI is transforming the role of designers, shifting them from creators to curators.
  • It explores how AI tools are enhancing design processes by automating routine tasks, allowing designers to focus on strategic decision-making and curating user experiences.
  • The piece highlights the growing importance of creativity in managing AI-driven systems and fostering collaboration across teams, ultimately reshaping the future of design work.
Share:The Future of Design: How AI Is Shifting Designers from Makers to Curators
5 min read

Are you overthinking your research process? This article explores how to determine when research is essential and when it might be holding you back. Learn a practical framework to prioritize studies, align with stakeholders, and maximize impact without wasting time or resources. Unlock strategies to focus your efforts on what truly matters.

Article by Carol Rossi
Are You Doing Too Much Research?
  • The article questions the common practice of conducting extensive research, suggesting that not all projects require it. Instead, it highlights the importance of discerning when research is truly necessary.
  • It introduces a framework to prioritize research efforts based on clarity, risk, and cost, ensuring impactful results without unnecessary delays.
  • The author emphasizes the role of stakeholder involvement in the research process, fostering better collaboration and alignment with organizational goals.
  • Practical strategies are provided for tracking and communicating the post-research impact, making the value of research more transparent and measurable.
Share:Are You Doing Too Much Research?
7 min read

Learn how to design and facilitate impactful co-creation sessions that inspire collaboration, spark creativity, and align diverse perspectives for meaningful outcomes.

Article by Aalap Doshi
Designing and Facilitating a Co-Creation Session
  • This article delves into the process of designing and facilitating effective co-creation sessions to foster collaborative innovation.
  • It outlines key steps, including planning, creating a structured agenda, and using tools to engage participants meaningfully.
  • The piece highlights how co-creation sessions can drive creativity, align diverse stakeholders, and generate actionable outcomes for complex challenges.
Share:Designing and Facilitating a Co-Creation Session
3 min read

Join the UX Magazine community!

Stay informed with exclusive content on the intersection of UX, AI agents, and agentic automation—essential reading for future-focused professionals.

Hello!

You're officially a member of the UX Magazine Community.
We're excited to have you with us!

Thank you!

To begin viewing member content, please verify your email.

Tell us about you. Enroll in the course.

    This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Check our privacy policy and