Generalist vs Specialist

Here is why Walmart’s team-building strategies are the best in the world. I hope this helps you to be next to create the best team!

Walmart has comprehensive Human Resources strategies to handpick the best in the world and to build the best teams.

We hear this term a lot: “choose the right talent” out of? Just about 6 million applicants to every job we post on our career site. (Citation needed for accurate statistics but you get the general idea.)

Walmart is the most collaborative company I have ever worked for. We have individual collaborations and team collaborations. You must learn this and be a master at Agile and Kanban ultra-modern ways of work if you want to survive.

Having worked with hundreds of people since 2009, I am always interested in people’s skillsets. Let's look at two examples:

Have you worked with individuals that e.g., went to a school for Finance, became a Finance Analyst, then an Internal Auditor, then a CPA, then Finance Lead, then VP of Equity Research, then CEO and president of a major Financial Investment company?

They are “Specialists”! They majored in what they loved and stayed with it all their lives until they retire. Their knowledge of the finance industry is priceless! They are precious.

On the other hand;

Have you worked with individuals that e.g., went to a school for Fine Arts, got a job as a Designer, then became an Advertising Lead, then Corporate Communications Manager, then Human Resources Manager, then Corporate Affairs Director, then VP of Operations over Logistics and Supply Chain, then EVP of Talent Development, then CEO of a pharmaceutical company?

They are “Generalists” and all of the above titles have “transferable skills.” Those individuals are precious, too! Because they are extremely adaptable and they have a wider set of skills, they are like super-glue that works for every surface.

Both groups are equally important and necessary in team building for every organization.

Which one of the above are you? Specialist or Generalist? Or Generalist with a focus? (Your focus could be your industry.)

As an Internal Talent, Walmart invests in your skillsets and asks which ones do you want to leverage on and what are the ones you want to gain? Depending on your passion and the direction you’re headed in, leaders will mentor, navigate, and move you around, but you still have to maintain a Solid Performer or Exceed Expectation evaluation.

When building teams, we look at:

• Skillsets vs Current Business Needs
• Skillsets vs Team Dynamics
• Skillsets vs Potential for Growth
• Skillsets vs Officer Potential
• Skillsets vs Individual’s career navigation (Career Compass)
• Skillsets vs Diversity

Add another layer to the above:

Walmart intentionally chooses professionals that come from the Store Operations. Every team has associates that have been promoted from the stores. Like a former Cashier, Store Manager, Market Manager, etc. A legacy of Sam Walton to promote within and have hands-on training.

Team building is a complicated process and it is designed that way to serve many purposes, including EEO and Compliance.

When the right candidate is placed, then Walmart invests in “Team Building.” Every year through vigorous workshops for “Small Teams” and “Total Teams” within every division we get trained on how to work with diversity. We learn about behavioral styles, needs and stressors, communication styles, feedback and criticism, building relationships and thought process. It is a constant practice. Every year the teams look different because some were promoted and some are new, so we need to learn again and again.

Now, how does the Team Building tie back to Generalist vs Specialist?

We have both Generalist and Specialist on the team and learn how to work with people with various skillsets. We synchronize the skillsets! It is the most rewarding and enriching experience I have ever had.

The generalists teach specialists the commonsense skills of the business.

The specialists teach generalists the core job-specific functions.

Together, we form an organization that can sustain itself like a small company within a company. Familiar with SWAS (Store Within A Store)?

It works and we love it!

- Lily