Discover 'The Neo-Generalist' in You to Innovate Next.

Last weekend, I had an interesting read of by invitation pre-release book authored by my good friends Kenneth Mikkelsen and Richard Martin, Great Thinkers and Futurists who brings in perspective of next wave of successful thinkers and doers in a hyperspecialised world in their new book 'The Neo-Generalist'.

The Neo-generalists inhabit multiple worlds. In a new society that values narrow expertise neo-generalists defy easy classification. As boundary spanners and serial masters they are uniquely positioned to bring a diversified perspective to the table and challenge habitual thinking.Neo-generalists are both specialist and generalist. The authors identifies that all have the capacity to be one, but it is our personal preferences and context that governs where we make use of our talents and skills.

The neo-generalist is both specialist and generalist, often able to master multiple disciplines. We all carry within us the potential to specialise and generalise. Many of us are unwittingly eclectic, innately curious. There is a continuum between the extremes of specialism and generalism, a spectrum of possibilities. Where we stand on that continuum at a given point in time is governed by context.

Since the advent of the Industrial Revolution, society has remained in thrall to the notion of hyperspecialism. This places constraints on the ways in which we are educated, the work we do, the people we socialise with, how we are recruited, how our career progression is managed, how we label ourselves for the benefit of others’ understanding. To counter and challenge these social norms, the neo-generalist has to learn how to give expression to their more generalist tendencies, even as they practise various specialisms, guiding others as they do so.

Our workplaces, governments, intelligence agencies and other communities and institutions constantly complain of silos, but that is an inevitable consequence of our promotion of hyperspecialism. So too the myopia of expertise that prevents us from seeing properly what is right in front of us, or connecting it in meaningful ways with other information, other people.

In The Neo-Generalist book, the author explore the characteristics and behaviours of individuals who do give space to their generalist inclinations, highlighting the social and organisational benefits that can be derived as a result of this. And ask how can the neo-generalist help shape our world, supporting and enabling others, as the current century progresses? It draws several stories from multiple disciplines and cultures, from business, art, science and sport, from people who live in more than one world, bringing innovation triggers from Marie Curie to Hedy Lemarr's spark of innovation, co-relating specialism and genralism to discover the sweet spot of 'Aha' moment in indivdiuals is 'wow'. I appreciate Kenneth and Richard for this new insightful piece of writing which opened my eyes to new world of thinking. Drawing thoughts from the book, now I believe that I'm more inclined towards and aspire to be a 'Neo-Generalist'.

Check this link to Amazon and explore more :

https://www.amazon.com/Neo-Generalist-Where-You-Who-Are/dp/1910649554