Generalist or Specialist?

#DaddyJimLessons #futureproof #generalist #specialist

#ONETeam #SNAPS #SageandNotableAdvisesfromPatrickSalazar

In my leadership journey in both the automative and BPM industries, I realized that I need to constantly be a specialist in each of the critical skills I need to learn to be an effective generalist as I advance in my leadership role.

My very first job was a Trainer in a world renown car distributor in July 1994. I love challenging myself which is the reason why I invest in learning new skills of other roles in the company. In a few months I got promoted as a Dealer Coordinator which is a field role ensuring compliance to standards regarding facilities & branding, people skills development, end to end process improvement, customer experience, and advanced technology. I was part of a Team sent to Japan to train and implement the new global dealership operations standards. Later, the other brand invited me to join them as a manager implementing all the dealer standards plus head of spare parts sales. When the Asian Economic Crisis hit, I boldly presented my idea in an executive forum that is why I became part of the Special Projects Team tasked to ensure we meet our targets and none of our nationwide auto dealers close shop. I was recognized as a “key trouble-shooter” and I got promoted every year in this company.

I woke up one day with two job offers - a third renown auto brand and a start-up Auto Claims Software Company. I consulted my dad and he advised if I join this third auto brand, I become a specialist in the automotive industry which is great. Meanwhile, it was the year 1999 and hype about the millennium bug (Y2K) made Information Technology the center of the universe. So he advised if I join the Auto Claim Software Company, I can advance my career in 3 industries - automotive, motor insurance and software development. Obviously, I choose the later. This was also the time that I enrolled in the MBA - Regis program of the Ateneo Graduate School of Business which is how I stumbled upon the Call Center industry in 2005.

Later called the Business Process Management (BPM) industry, I started as an Operations Director managing 8 accounts. I challenged myself to learn different roles for 10 years so when I go back to Operations, I can help my C-level clients more. My journey made me a specialist in business development, C-level client relations, solution architecture, site development, client visit management, contract negotiation, transitions management and expanded my network in the industry.

Fast forward to today, aside from my day job, I enrolled myself in a professional coach program accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF) so I can help my network as an executive coach.

*About the photo

This was taken in Tomorrow Land in Hong Kong Disneyland. I told my 4 awesome kids to never stop learning new things so they can future proof themselves as they become adults.