Neither. Both are equally important.
But how is that possible? Shouldn’t a specialist on a topic be better than a generalist? Yes. Specialists will be better than generalists if we focus on one topic.
But in real life, we solve problems, which may or may not be bound to a particular topic. Even if it did, its solution may or may not be bound to the same topic.
To solve a problem, we need help from both Generalists and Specialists.
Generalists vs Specialists: How do they contribute?
Specialists contribute to solving the problem by focusing on the bleeding edge of the topic they are experts on. They understand everything related to the topic and continue pushing its boundaries. If the solution exists in their domain, they will find it.
But what if the solution lies outside of the topic in question? That’s where Generalists come in. Generalists have broad knowledge of multiple disciplines. They find solutions by connecting them with lateral thinking.
Generalists vs Specialists? Which one should I pursue?
That’s a personal preference. Ideally, you should be a hybrid of both, a T-shaped person. Someone with broad knowledge of multiple fields (the top bar of T) and in-depth knowledge of at least one field (the vertical bar of T). The depth and breadth will vary based on your capacity.
Thanks to the ease of knowledge distribution, the demand for specialists has decreased over the last few decades. In the past, every institution used to have its own home-grown specialists to drive their business. But now, specialists tend to share their work over the Internet, so many institutions can get by without having their own specialists reinvent the wheel.
Conclusion: Which one am I?
I believe I lean towards Generalists. Before understanding the above (thank you Range for helping me understand the importance of Generalists), I thought specialists were superior and regretted that I didn’t specialize in anything important. No matter how good of a generalist I am, ultimately, I would be stuck unless I consulted with specialists, right?
I now understand that connecting the dots isn’t easy either and specialists might get stuck if the solution is outside their domain. To successfully solve a problem, both parties need to work together.
Specializing in a topic is not the only way to progress in a career. Being a Generalist is a perfectly valid alternative route.