Being a generalist

An individual conversant with, or capable of handling, several different fields, skills, or aptitudes.

The extreme types of generalist are the dilettante or jack-of-all-trades (who knows a little about many topics and may move aimlessly from one problem to another) and the integrator (who is able to fit diverse activities into a general framework). The integrators are the true generalists, who are expected to see the general as well as the particular and to be motivated by interests broader than their own or even of their own organization. They are looked to for skills not only in communication and compromise but in the constructive integration of divergent interests. They are expected to understand an organization's broad environment as well as, or even more than, its internal workings. They are expected to know enough about relevant techniques to enable them to understand, evaluate, and coordinate the activities of many specialists and professionals.