Before we get into the details of this article, let’s start with the definition of Hybrids and Specialists.
Definition of Hybrids and Specialists
Hybrids are, in the context of this article, people who have the ability to amalgamate technical and new-age skills e.g. computer science, analytics and coding. Aside from these, they also possess soft skills such as good communication skills, problem-solving capabilities and collaboration.
A specialist however, is a person who concentrates primarily on a particular subject or activity; a person highly skilled in a specific and restricted field.
What’s the current market like?
Employers these days would prefer hybrids over specialists. Here are the reasons why:
- In today’s world, the workplace has become more complex, dynamic, leaner and more agile. The need for technological proficiency, collaborative environments and kaleidoscope thinking has never been more important. Organisations expect employees possess capabilities to interpret data, leverage on technical tools and be able to apply their insights and work in partnership with other teams to present the big picture.
- There is a need for people who can lead or execute projects from beginning to end. People with hybrid skills are handier than those with specific skills. With hybrid employees on board, projects will utilise lesser manpower, and therefore, reduce people cost significantly.
Will specialists still have a place in the modern workplace?
Specialist would still have their place in the modern times but however, it would spell lesser chances of employability as they are limited to various positions. In a nutshell, employees laced with versatile skill-sets for a particular role are more likely to gain recognition and opportunities on the management ladder than the ones having only a particular skill.
What are the types of employees out there?
Due to the VUCA dynamic (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) impacting every business, as mentioned, organisations would need to be more complex, dynamic, leaner and more agile. This gives rise to expanded skill sets and capabilities. The following bucket defines the employee type or shape across a capability and maturity spectrum:
- I-Shaped — (aka traditional specialist) employees characterised by a single specialty or area of expertise. They demonstrate limited general knowledge of different disciplines and prefer to work in one single job type. They are depicted with the letter “I” which represents their deep knowledge and experience in a single specialty or domain.
- T-Shaped — (aka modern specialist) employees who have vertical (specialised) skills and horizontal (general) knowledge in other disciplines. As compared to I-shaped employees, T-shaped employees not only have broad skills across multiple knowledge area or discipline (the horizontal part of the T), but also deep expertise in one particular speciality or domain.
- Pi-Shaped — (hybrid) employees who have evolved from the T-shape into one denoted by broad mastery of general knowledge but also deep functional or domain expertise in two or more knowledge areas. Employees with multiple areas of expertise can provide even greater flexibility to the team, particularly to the organisations that have limited people resources. This is denoted by the Pi (π) symbol.
- M-Shaped — (hybrid) employees who have evolved from being Pi-shaped into those who possess multiple specialties (the vertical part of the M). From a resource management perspective, a person with one or more specialties are more adaptable than someone with a single speciality (I-shaped person) or even Pi-shaped. As such, each additional speciality changes the letter “M” to a comb. That is, where an employee possesses more than three specialties to resemble a comb shape.
- E-Shaped — (hybrid) are employees who actively demonstrate a combination of four characteristics – Experience, Expertise, Exploration and Execution to form the letter E. E-shaped employees demonstrate the breadth and depth of knowledge have expanded their knowledge to include tangible (execution e.g. proven ability to deliver) and intangible (exploration e.g. proven ability towards continuous improvement) specialties. This implies the person has both vision and granular detail to make a visible difference to the organisation through exemplification of being the best practice practitioner in whatever domain or competency.
- X-Shaped — (hybrid) employees have a high degree of self-awareness, adaptive capacity and the competencies to thrive in the future. Similar to the self-actualisation in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, this employee type refers to the pinnacle of individual capability and competency. That is, X-shaped people demonstrate uniquely human skills that are grounded in empathy and purpose. They move from domains of knowledge to a constant state of learning, continually adapting to the environment. Employees with X-shaped skills have deep expertise in a vast number of knowledge areas as well as strong leadership skills and credibility.
So which one am I?
I am a mix of E and X shaped. Here’s the reason why.
