In today’s rapidly evolving professional landscape, the ability to adapt, learn, and take initiative has become more valuable than ever. Enter the high-agency generalist: a person who brings energy, drive, and a multidisciplinary approach to their work, often making a more significant impact than those with specialized but narrower expertise. Terms like “go-getter” or “self-starter” are often used to describe people with these qualities, but the concept of resourceful, multidisciplinary professionals takes it a step further.
"High-agency individuals don’t wait for permission or perfect conditions; they create momentum through resourcefulness and resilience."
What is High Agency?
High agency refers to an innate drive to identify opportunities and take action—regardless of constraints. High-agency individuals don’t wait for permission or perfect conditions; they create momentum through resourcefulness and resilience. These are the people who, when faced with a challenge, focus less on barriers and more on finding paths forward.In the workplace, this translates into a bias toward action, a willingness to experiment, and the ability to inspire others to rally around a vision. High-agency individuals thrive in ambiguity, often leading the charge in solving complex, undefined problems.
Why Generalists Are Thriving
1. Breadth of Skills: Generalists excel by having knowledge across multiple disciplines. They’re not bound by the silos of a single domain, which enables them to connect dots others might not see.
2. Proactive Energy: Their action-oriented mindset ensures they don’t just sit on the sidelines with their diverse knowledge—they take initiative, push boundaries, and drive outcomes.The rise of technology, AI, and remote work has made this combination especially powerful. As AI automates specialized tasks, the ability of versatile, action-oriented professionals to integrate knowledge across domains becomes a critical asset. Problems are no longer neatly contained within one domain, and organizations increasingly value individuals who can adapt to shifting priorities while leveraging AI tools to maintain forward momentum and future-proof their careers.
Designers and High Agency
Take the perennial question in the design world: Should designers code? For years, debates have raged over whether designers should expand their skill sets beyond visual or interaction design to include front-end development. High-agency generalists bypass this debate altogether. They recognize that understanding code is akin to architects understanding the materials used in construction—they may not be doing the building themselves, but having knowledge of the materials and methods enhances their designs and allows them to communicate effectively with those who bring the vision to life. The goal isn’t to master everything but to have enough fluency to bridge gaps and create opportunities.
The Impact of High Agency
High-agency generalists bring an unmatched energy to their projects. Their ability to:
- Take initiative in ambiguous situations
- Learn and apply new skills quickly
- Build bridges across different domains
- Inspire and lead cross-functional teams
...makes them invaluable in organizations aiming for innovation and growth.
Expand Your Skillset: Diversify your knowledge base by exploring adjacent disciplines and using a variety of tools, thinking methods, and design fidelities to explore ideas from multiple perspectives.
Cultivating High Agency
While some traits of high agency are innate, they can also be developed:
- Adopt a Growth Mindset: Focus on learning over perfection. Experiment, fail fast, and iterate.
- Expand Your Skillset: Diversify your knowledge base by exploring adjacent disciplines and using a variety of tools, thinking methods, and design fidelities to explore ideas from multiple perspectives.
- Seek Ambiguity: Take on projects with unclear outcomes and embrace the challenge of defining the path forward.
- Build Resilience: Cultivate the ability to overcome obstacles and remain resourceful under pressure.
The Future Belongs to High-Agency Generalists
As the pace of change accelerates, adaptable and multidisciplinary professionals will only grow in value. Their ability to navigate complexity, adapt to new challenges, and drive impactful outcomes positions them as key players in shaping the future of work.
Whether you’re a designer wondering if you should learn to code, a manager seeking adaptable talent, or a professional looking to future-proof your career, embracing the mindset and practices of a high-agency generalist can unlock your potential and amplify your impact. That said, specialists also play a vital role in this evolving landscape—their deep expertise often forms the foundation upon which generalists can build bridges and create broader strategies. The key lies in fostering collaboration between high-agency generalists and domain experts to drive holistic innovation.
Are you adopting more generalist skills over time?