Which is more effective? Specialization or Generalization/Diversification of Skills?

[TheWhiteRabbit]

So, out of the two major constructs... We can choose to specialize in a group of skills...  OR we can choose many different skills that aid us in our approach.

 

If we choose to specialize, we may or may not be able to handle things that are outside our skill set.  Yet, we may become very good at what we do.

 

If we diversify our skills, we may or may not be able to to handle some things in our lives.  It all depends upon how much we have developed the skills we need.

 

In my experience I could say that both types seem to fair quite well, it seems to really boil down to how well a person chooses to understand the skill sets they use.  I think that in the past, I did not comprehend the understanding part of it.  If a person can understand many different skill sets, it is probably a "mostly there" scenario.

 

I think now maybe specialization is the way to go.  What do you think?  It seems like specialization seems to allow a person to focus mostly on one area of expertise.  Maybe that is more in line with how humans are?

 

Other notable things I noticed was that people with political right leaning tendencies seem to favor specialization in a way, seem to be more in tune with spiritual centers like the amygdala, whereas left political thought is more toward diversification causing hybridization and the anterior cingulate cortex.

 

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/How-left-right-politics-affects-human-evolution/article16715391.ece

 

The thing that gets me though is that you really need a mix of this.  Diversification leads to higher income economically in a country, which is different than for the individual.  Specialization leads to low income in countries.

 

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2016/11/04/what-is-the-path-to-growth-and-development-diversification-or-specialization/

 

So, my findings are right leaning people are more spiritual.  Left leaning people are nurturing innovators.

People who diversify and understand may be stronger people.  Specialization allows people to use their time in other pursuits.

But specialized economies occur in poor egalitarian welfare states.

Diversified economies result in rich income countries.

 

Troubled us humans are... Yes?

 

Or am I reading it wrong.  Maybe these things are a type of yin-yang flux designed to rebalance things as they approach and turn into their opposite...?  What do you think?

 

 

Edited October 18, 2017 by TheWhiteRabbit

[Lost in Translation]

You need both. Most importantly you need the ability and the desire to learn. Thus when you need deep knowledge you can quickly acquire it and become a 'specialist' in something, or you can research an entire field and become a 'generalist'. The need to be this or that is an illusion.

[Chang]

Two quotes that be be of interest as regards the subject.

 

"Jack of all trades yet master of none."

 

"Who travels furthest, he who takes a thousand steps in one direction or he who takes a thousand steps in a thousand different directions?"

 

Whilst it is desirable to have abilities in many fields true mastery will require specialisation and dare I use the word "dedication."

[thelerner]

26 minutes ago, Lost in Translation said:

You need both. Most importantly you need the ability and the desire to learn. Thus when you need deep knowledge you can quickly acquire it and become a 'specialist' in something, or you can research an entire field and become a 'generalist'. The need to be this or that is an illusion.

I agree.  Mastering something lays the foundation of concentration and integrity to learn other things more easily.   The more you learn the more connections you see.

 

I'm taking a Pool/billiards course now.  And the teacher is constantly bringing up other arts, from rifle to golf.  Whereas I bring it back to Aikido, lots of connections that help you learn. 

 

When it comes to picking a meditative (or martial) practice I've always thought marry one, flirt with others. 

Edited October 18, 2017 by thelerner

[MooNiNite]

God , or the path of truth, will take you naturally down the road of specialization.

People that are unpeaceful usually are walking in 10,000 different directions. 

[Mia]

2 hours ago, MooNiNite said:

God , or the path of truth, will take you naturally down the road of specialization.

People that are unpeaceful usually are walking in 10,000 different directions. 

 I like how this sounds, especially "Usually"

cause some are able to find peace in 10,000 directions. To them it might still be one

[cold]

3 hours ago, thelerner said:

I agree.  Mastering something lays the foundation of concentration and integrity to learn other things more easily.   The more you learn the more connections you see.

 

I'm taking a Pool/billiards course now.  And the teacher is constantly bringing up other arts, from rifle to golf.  Whereas I bring it back to Aikido, lots of connections that help you learn. 

 

When it comes to picking a meditative (or martial) practice I've always thought marry one, flirt with others. 

 

Once one is married, one must be very careful flirting, imho.

[Son Yu]

I believe you can become a jack of all trades gracefully but it takes extreme discipline, routine or a Master.

Makes me think of the ancient Shaolin training methods. They say you can only attain mastery in a skill with dedicated focus upon it, after mastery you move on to the next skill. Most people train 1000 things at once and never reach mastery in any. But with guidance, especially from young, you can be forced to only train one thing until its time to move on to the next skill.

True mastery is infinite though.

After learning other things in other fields, it often impacts your previous skills when you go back to them, for better or worse.

 

But i believe this changes with how you look at it.

One can say i want to master shooting a basketball, another dribbling, and a third can say i want to master Basketball.

Each person may view it as one trade.

Grouping minor skills together into one (master shooting the ball, shooting stance, form etc.) it can always be broken down further or added to.

infinite

What if i am truly passionate about many different trades but instead I decide to view it as "ME" instead of dividing it? Then the only skill I have to train is doing "ME"

 

if its hard then maybe its not you.. thats where a master can make sure you do the things you dont feel like doing.

 

Daily meditation is key

 

Thanks for this post 

 

[liminal_luke]

More effective for what?

 

For achievement in a specialized field, a narrow focus may be more effective. For crafting an interesting and fulfilling life, diversification is equally important.

 

 

[thelerner]

4 hours ago, MooNiNite said:

God , or the path of truth, will take you naturally down the road of specialization.

People that are unpeaceful usually are walking in 10,000 different directions. 

There's some truth to that, but often before you begin walking its good to know the general terrain.  

Also, the fastest path is not always straight. 

And on the third hand, the goals and assumptions of one's youth, change as you get further along.

[MooNiNite]

20 minutes ago, thelerner said:

Also, the fastest path is not always straight. 

 

I like this. Because for me I had to begin working to really find something i have a talent for. I couldnt find it consciously. 

And at the time, getting a job at a grocery store didn't seem like the straight path towards getting better at something i was interested in. But it definitely was.