Superman or the Fantastic Four? The Power of a Varied Background in a Single Person
Bjoern Vidar Fjeldstad
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Imagine you’re assembling a team for a high-stakes mission. You could choose Superman—an individual with a broad range of superpowers, capable of tackling almost any challenge alone. Or, you could opt for the Fantastic Four, a group where each member specializes in a particular ability. The question is, which option is truly the most effective?
In the corporate world, this analogy often plays out during the hiring process. Employers must decide between hiring specialists—those who have honed specific skills within well-defined roles—or a generalist, someone whose varied background spans multiple disciplines and roles. This decision can significantly impact a company’s ability to innovate and adapt to change.
Drawing from David Epstein’s book Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, let’s explore why, in many scenarios, a “Superman”—an individual with a diverse set of experiences—might be the key to success in an ever-evolving business landscape.
The Superman of the Business World: A Versatile Professional
In Range, Epstein delves into the success of generalists, those who have traversed various fields, industries, and roles. These individuals, like Superman, possess a broad array of skills and knowledge, allowing them to connect the dots in ways that specialists might not. They’ve encountered diverse challenges, learned from a wide range of experiences, and developed the ability to think creatively and solve problems from multiple angles.
Consider this: you’re facing a rapidly changing market where the rules are constantly shifting. You need someone who can adapt, someone who has seen and tackled problems from different perspectives. A person with a varied background can draw from their past experiences to devise innovative solutions, much like how Superman uses his multiple powers to overcome obstacles.
For instance, I’ve spent the past few decades running my own businesses—wearing multiple hats, from marketing to finance to operations. This broad experience has equipped me with a Swiss Army knife of skills. While I may not be the sharpest scalpel in a specific discipline, I can approach problems holistically, seeing connections and opportunities that a more narrowly focused professional might miss.
The Fantastic Four: A Team of Specialists
Now, imagine assembling a team of specialists—the Fantastic Four. Each member brings deep expertise in their own area. Together, they cover a wide range of skills, but each is confined to their specific domain. When faced with a problem that requires cross-disciplinary thinking, the team must rely on collaboration and communication, which can sometimes lead to delays or conflicts.
While there’s undeniable strength in specialized teams, Epstein argues that in many cases, the most groundbreaking ideas come from those who can integrate knowledge across fields. Specialists may be experts in their niche, but they often work within the constraints of their discipline. When a situation demands a solution that doesn’t fit neatly within one area of expertise, the team may struggle to adapt.
This isn’t to diminish the value of specialists—far from it. But in an environment that demands agility, creativity, and the ability to pivot quickly, having a “Superman” who can operate across various domains can be a game-changer.
The Hidden Power of Generalists
One of the most compelling points Epstein makes in Range is that generalists excel in environments that are ill-defined or rapidly changing—precisely the type of environment most businesses find themselves in today. They thrive in roles where they can apply a breadth of knowledge to new and evolving challenges.
Let’s consider an example from my own experience. Running businesses across different industries has exposed me to a variety of market dynamics, consumer behaviors, and operational challenges. This diversity has not only broadened my skill set but also sharpened my ability to navigate uncertainty. When faced with a new challenge, I don’t approach it with a fixed mindset; instead, I draw from a wide pool of experiences to find creative, often unconventional solutions.
The Fantastic Four might be excellent at executing a well-defined strategy, but the Superman—the versatile generalist—excels in crafting that strategy in the first place, especially when the path forward isn’t clear.
Why Businesses Need Their Own Superman
The current business climate is characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity—often referred to as VUCA. In such an environment, the ability to adapt quickly is crucial. This is where the value of a generalist becomes most apparent.
A generalist brings to the table an ability to synthesize information from various sources, make connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, and apply lessons from one domain to another. They’re not constrained by the traditional boundaries of a single field, and this flexibility is a major asset.
Moreover, the ability to learn and adapt is often more important than any specific skill set. Epstein’s research shows that generalists, having been exposed to a variety of disciplines, are often better at learning new skills because they’ve had to do it repeatedly throughout their careers. They understand the process of learning itself, which makes them incredibly valuable in a world where the only constant is change.
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A Shift in Perspective
So, when faced with the choice between Superman and the Fantastic Four, the decision isn’t necessarily about which is better, but about what your organization needs most. If the challenge ahead requires deep, specialized knowledge and execution, a team of specialists might be the answer. But if the path is unclear, if the problem is complex and requires creative, interdisciplinary thinking, then a generalist—a Superman—might just be your best bet.
For hiring managers and recruiters, this means rethinking the questions we ask in interviews. Rather than solely seeking depth in a single area, we should also value the breadth of experience and the ability to connect diverse ideas. It’s about recognizing that a varied background isn’t a sign of indecision or lack of focus—it’s a mark of someone who’s built a toolkit that can be applied in countless ways.
Conclusion: Embrace Your Inner Superman
To those of us with varied backgrounds, it’s time to embrace the Superman within. Our strength lies not in the depth of a single expertise but in the range of skills and experiences we bring to the table. This is our superpower—the ability to adapt, innovate, and thrive in any environment.
For businesses, the next time you’re faced with the choice, remember that in an uncertain world, the versatility of a Superman might just be the key to success.
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