The T-shaped metaphor has been about for some time – being a strong person with specialist depth and generalist breadth.
People are recruited accordingly:
- A+ years of work experience in B role
- Must have C degree in D specialism
- At least E years experience in the F industry
- Experience working in a G environment
- Practical experience of working with H method
And then a subconscious bias kicks in where managers choose people like themselves. Meaning the same people are hired, again and again – gingerbread people cookie cutters.
Which often leads to a place of confirmation bias, creating a culture that reinforces the same way of doing things and affirms the same belief systems at play.
That approach worked, somewhat, during the Knowledge Age. But it’s blunt now, as this next shift – the Conceptual Age – is calling for sharp innovation.
Innovation is not down to you or me. It’s down to us. As true creativity comes from a place diversity. From having a room full of individual experiences and different ideas – a gingerbread house.
What can you do to start building a team shaped for the future?