Individuals with an “I” shape of skills have one focused their time on delving deep into a single skill.  This means they’ll know everything about a specific tool, concept or area, which tends to make them excellent resources for those topics.  This focus can, however, lead to other skills not being as strong as they could (or should) be.  For example, a technical resource who is incredibly knowledgable about yoru system, but cannot effectively communicate, or a lawyer who knows everything about their area but is incredibly abrasive in interpersonal interactions.

“I” shaped skillsets may not be very common in smaller environments, if only because the level of challenges that crop up on a regular basis don’t necessitate their skills.  Frequently this results in these individuals working as consultants or contractors so they can stay busy.

The upside of an I

Folks with I shaped skillsets are incredibly important to successfully completing large and complex projects.  This is mainly due to their in-depth understanding of the topic at hand, which tends to allow them to either foresee challenges before they crop up, or deal with them if they do.  While “T” shaped folks or “broken combs” may also possess some amount of skill in those areas, they rarely get to the depth that someone with an “I” shaped skillset can delve.

This means folks with an “I” shaped skill set are great to throw at large, complex problems that fit in their wheelhouse.  Their experience and background will give them a good idea of where to begin tackling the problem, and since they’ve done it all before they’ll know what steps need to be taken and when.  Their innate desire to learn about that topic will also result in them continuing to sharpen their skill set, either through formal training, experimentation or networking with others in their field.  This makes them a great resource for trying new things and getting the most out of their work.

The downside of an I

Given the immense amount of time and focus it takes to develop a single set of skills this deeply, “I” shaped skillsets tend to leave folks lacking in some areas.  When unrecognized this can lead to some severe challenges with projects, as this individual will keep chugging along their path without realizing other areas may need attention.  For example, understanding the need to communicate changes to a project’s scope is incredibly important, however, if I’m entirely focused on a technical buildout I may not share that information in time.

The extreme depth of skillset an “I” shape offers also can make it hard to find one.  This is less a challenge for that person, and more for someone seeking those skills.  This can lead to increased market demand, as well as scarcity (think back to how hard it can be to find an expert in some smaller fields).  The focus on one particular area may also blind this individual to learning about other areas, potentially leading to not fully understanding how their work interacts.

Managing an I

The best advice I can provide here is to learn to identify when someone has an “I” shaped skill set and where that skillset ends.  Theres a number of signs that will help indicate an “I” shaped skillset:

• Long history with one technology, concept, etc. - Individuals who have specialized over a number of years in one field may tend to be “I” shaped.

• Disinterest in other areas - Not expressing interest in other disciplines, ideas, etc. while focusing entirely on one is also a good indication.

Knowing where these edges are allows you to find ways to support them, whether it be through integrating them with a team of “T” or “broken combs” to help fill out the gaps, or someone skilled in managing “I” shapes.  You can also look for groups of “I” shapes and have them work together.  This can result in multiple folks with deep skill sets playing off each other and performing great work… you just need to be careful they all aren’t blind to each others areas.

Being direct, and repetitive, with communication can help avoid potential problems as well as folks in the “I” shaped bucket sometimes end up assuming others will fill in the gaps, or simply forget to take specific actions (e.g. communicating updates).  Consistently connecting with them (or putting them on a team that’s stronger in those areas) can help maximize their impact.  Helping ensure their schedules are cleared can also be helpful as it allows these folks to focus their time.

If you’re an “I”

Similar to someone managing an “I” the best thing you can do is to be aware of where your skill sets end.  Knowing this boundary will help you work with a team (since you can call out where someone else needs to step in), and where you can choose to improve.  Knowing the depth of your skill is also important, as many folks will turn to you for all the answers about a specific area.  While you may be a super-expert, there’s always *something* you don’t know… and know that edge is just as important and knowing everything else.

Asking for feedback on how to improve your overall performance is also a great (if not uncomfortable) idea.  There’s no expectation that you master other areas or take on more work, but there may be some simple and straight forward things you can do to help keep things running.