When at work, most of us strive to do a better job. In part, being better at what we do can lead to some positive things like more money, more power, more prestige…the list is long. In fact we all struggle with the notion of being better at a lot of things: better at what we do (for a living), becoming better people, better at who we are, better friends, better players (at a favorite sport)...it may be hopeless but I always try to be a better cook! The point is, the list is limitless.
Think 'Skill Set' Instead Of Single Skill
In a New York Times article, Tim Herrera suggests that some cognitive reframing is in order, at least in the world of work & I think he may be on to something. Herrera maintains that rather than hone one skill to perfection, it's both wiser & more useful to develop a skill *set.* In essence, developing a skill set rather than having a single focus really will make you better...more versatile, more marketable, even more, desirable as an employee.
What Apple & the Rolling Stones Have In Common
Consider the plight of a musician. Many musicians struggle for years to play their desired instrument to perfection. They practice endlessly, take lessons for years, even perform in various workshops but how many of those same musicians wind up playing at Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden or even just *cutting a CD?* Obviously, the answer is precious few. On the other hand, take someone like Mick Jagger, leader & front man for the venerable Rolling Stones. Let's face it, the truth is, on a charitable day, he only has a so-so voice. However, he doesn't need a better voice because of his spectacular skill set. He's a fabulous performer, marketer, businessman, leader, talent scout & much, much more! Successful for decades, perfecting his voice probably would not have necessarily made him & the Rolling Stones any “better.” Another example of this can be found in the tech world. In his early career, accurate or not, Steve Jobs was frequently thought of as an engineer when the fact is, reportedly even though he had some of the basics down, he was a terrible engineer. Although he was someone with only rudimentary engineering knowledge, his success in the tech world was more a reflection of becoming an amazing visionary, marketer, tastemaker, lithographer, & whether loved or hated, [& while many would dispute it], a charismatic though flawed leader. If he had just focused on becoming a better engineer, the world & the tech business would be very different. Weaving together all of the subsequent skills developed along the way, contributed to the success of the now iconic Apple computer, and the very “core” [pun intended] of the Apple Corporation. Furthermore, I think it’s fair to say that without his success, the highly regarded movie company Pixar would not exist either.
Skill Set vs One Perfect Skill
This is an approach that turns a way of thinking about work on its collective head. Perhaps just a reflection of changing times, this notion suggests that it's actually better to be a *jack of many trades* or tweaking an idea from a famous fable, an even more nimble fox rather than a singularly focused hedgehog. In this context, hedgehogs do one thing while foxes attend to many different things. When it comes to your job, at the very least, consider that building a skill set instead of perfecting one skill, may be your ticket to *resembling a fox* or just being*better!"
