When Generalists Are Better Than Specialists?

When choosing between generalist and specialist roles, consider whether you value depth or breadth of knowledge more. As a specialist, you'll be able to learn about a subject deeply, whereas a generalist position allows you to study more, or a wider breadth, of topics.

How are generalists different than specialists?

A generalist species is able to thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions and can make use of a variety of different resources (for example, a heterotroph with a varied diet). A specialist species can thrive only in a narrow range of environmental conditions or has a limited diet.

Why being a generalist is good?

Generalists have a more diverse collection of knowledge to draw from, so they can see connections and correlations that specialists might miss. They tend to have a higher EQ, too, because becoming a generalist means interacting with many different kinds of people in all sorts of situations.