Generalist versus specialty: my advice for you

Recently I had a nice conversation with an entrepreneur. He called himself an all-rounder. In other words, a generalist. He called himself that because he had done many different things in his life and was mostly successful. It was also something people said to him, "You really can do everything, can't you?" As an entrepreneur, you often have to do different things in your business. But does this also mean that it is best to put yourself away as a generalist, or is it better to put yourself away with your specialty positioning? In this blog, as a positioning strategist, I give my take on this. 

What is a specialist? 

As a specialist, you know a lot in a particular field. You are expert in your field and you can solve problems within this area. You have delved into a particular field, you are expert and you have the right knowledge within this area. This makes you skilled; your knowledge and skills are in the area in which you have specialized. 

The disadvantage to choosing a specific specialty, is that at some point you do get issues on your plate that require knowledge from another field. Or you have to approach the issue from a different angle.

What is a generalist?

As a generalist, you know a lot. You have done a broad study or have a broad work background. This allows you to solve a problem from different angles. You are multifunctional, versatile and engaged in various fields. This makes you a jack-of-all-trades, an all-rounder. Not a specific specialty, in other words. The disadvantage of being a generalist is that you want to address everyone with your knowledge. But because you have such broad knowledge, you don't appeal to people. Another risk is that you are not taken seriously because you only have 80% knowledge of a certain area and not 100%. 

The differences between specialism and generalism

Between a specialist and a generalist, you can see a number of differences. For example, a specialist is concerned with a specific area of work. A generalist prefers to work in different areas. The generalist often prefers to work on the main line, while the specialist prefers to work in more depth. A specialist is more interested in the details, while a generalist does not spend too much time on these. 

Why you better showcase your specialty

Let me get right to the point: I advocate specialism. That's not to say you can't be a generalist, but rather do so behind the scenes. Position yourself as a specialist. That way you make it much clearer to your top clients why they should be with you. Sell them what they want and give them what they need.

Do you choose the role as a generalist on the front end? Then farMARK you present yourself as an all-rounder and express this as a message. But by putting your specialty forward, you demonstrate your expertise much better. You show what knowledge you have and how you apply it for your top clients. By doing so, you create value for your top clients. 

Imagine you have knee problems. Then you are more likely to go to a physical therapist who specializes in knees, rather than a therapist who treats the whole body. That's why it's so important to market yourself as a specialist.

What does innovation mean For a specialist?

If you look at the word innovation and the meaning of this, then it means you are taking certain steps to become more successful. Why innovate? Because it makes you specialize further. Many companies think that responding to innovations means looking only at the creative aspect of it. Whereas on the business side, you are also thanks to innovate your business grows. And if corporate growth is what you want, innovation is indispensable. Especially as a specialist.
Innovation examples:

• Service innovation: you improve your specialist services by using self-reflective chatbots, for example, you deploy AI to predict customer behavior. 
• Market innovation: you explore a new market to use your specialty. If, as a therapist, you used to give therapies only to women with lip edema, you now use the same therapy for women with edema. 
• Technological innovation: in business I was already working with AI and now I'm putting it to more and more use, making me work smarter and faster. 
• Process innovation: by designing your processes more conveniently, you work faster, more customer-oriented, more efficiently and you get more return from your processes. So you renew the process for your products or services. 
• Brand innovation: does your positioning still suit you, or can you fine tune it? With which values and characteristics does your target group associate your company, your MARK? Are these the same values and traits you think of, or are these different traits? 

Making an impact with your specialty

If you really want to make an impact, it starts with your positioning and your value of being incomparable in the marketplace. For me, for example, this is atMARKily Profitable. This is not something I immediately came up with during my first month as an entrepreneur. After about 8 months, I knew exactly: this is what I stand for as a business strategist. And also your positioning is something you keep tinkering with, to make the links fit better and better. 

Only after positioning your MARK, you notice that positioning starts to work. You stand out. By which you can make your life purpose can fulfill: helping more people, making an impact on more people. 

From ambitious generalist to ambitious specialist

Do you want to create a breakthrough in your business growth?
You want to innovate to grow, but what knobs will you turn to achieve that?

As the expert in Business innovation & strategy, I help entrepreneurs grow their (online) business profitably and generate more profit and freedom. Offering new opportunities and perspectives to start leading their life and business in such a way to be future-proof and (financially) free to live and do business on their own terms. 

Say YES to change, financial freedom and unlimited free life on your terms!

Say YES to Unlimited Freedom

My mission is to help people like you step in for their worth, with unique talents and gifts, to To live the life in which everything is possible.