In Praise of Polymaths: The Value of Cross-Functional People

It's easy to identify businesses where specialists are valued. But within the walls of the some of the finest agencies, it's the polymaths who are everywhere. And that's no accident. Most people are familiar with the value of cross-functional teams, but cross-functional individuals are of particularly notable value. McKinsey & Company deems these cross-functional types T-shaped people; Puttylike founder Emilie Wapnick uses the term multipotentialites; and celebrities with multiple areas of expertise are commonly called multi-hyphenates. While the different terms have their nuances, they all get at the core idea of individuals with a mix of talents. And they're increasingly sought-after, particularly in industries like experience design. After all, experience design is not about a single channel or a medium, where a specialist can ensure everything is done right. It's more of an ecosystem, where success hinges on two core factors: Cross-functional individuals tend to be especially well suited for this kind of work. They're natural empaths, which affords them the vital ability to design for human-to-human connections. And they have an appreciation for the holistic nature of experience design, which requires the fluency to connect disparate disciplines. Agencies that recruit these cross-functional individuals will find that their value is profound, provided the agencies do their part. It's not enough to hire people with a plurality of skill sets; you must encourage them to cross functions freely, breaking free of the confines of traditional org charts so they can apply their full talents. The results speak for themselves. With benefits like these, it's fair to expect that the trend of hiring hybrids and cultivating teams of cross-functional individuals will be a lasting one. When you find something that's good for employees, agencies and clients alike, it tends to stick around.

In Praise of Polymaths: The Value of Cross-Functional People

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