This short clip of my most recent podcast episode with Venk struck me and provides a valuable leadership/life lesson for all of us, whether you’re running a company, a department, or a family. It reminded me of a book a friend of mine and friend of #medtech, Joe Mullings, recommended. It’s called “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World,” by David Epstein. The basic thesis of the book is that in nearly every walk of life, from the playing field to the conference room to the board room to the classroom, the most successful people (and often the happiest people) have a wide range of interests and pursuits, professionally and personally. And that organizations benefit from these “generalists” vs. “specialists.” While of course there are exceptions – Tiger Woods playing better golf by age eight than his dad is the one Epstein starts his book with – most people and the organizations they are a part of succeed not in spite of but because of their diversity … of talent, of thought, of experience, of background. Most top professional athletes were great varsity-level athletes in several sports, not just the one they took pro. Many inventors and innovators have a wide range of personal and professional interests, and some of their greatest inventions in one field came from their interest in or understanding of another. Venk had no idea that starting a production company with his brother would prepare him so well to lead a medtech company. And yet … As we lead, as we hire, as we build, as we grow, his experience and Epstein’s research show that we shouldn’t necessarily be looking for people with a “demonstrated track record” of success in our organization’s narrow field, whatever it may be. We should look just as closely at people who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence generally. In multiple ways. Perhaps even in multiple arenas. Sometimes you need a subject matter expert. Some positions truly require deep but narrow expertise. Of course. But often, what you really need is a “generalist” who is deeply committed to excellence for its own sake. https://lnkd.in/evEqfUr5
Mike Kosikas
4mo
Great point here!
Shyam Cousik
4mo
Wonderful podcast Venkatesh
Partner @ The Mullings Group, Board Member, "24 in '24 Top Voices in Med Tech (MD+DI)", Host of The Bleeding Edge of Digital Health Podcast
4moRange is required reading!