Multidisciplinary thinking plays a crucial role in the process of balancing technical and core skills. A multidisciplinary mindset involves looking at problems from multiple perspectives and bringing together knowledge and skills from different disciplines to find innovative solutions. By fostering such thinking, a leader can bring a diverse range of perspectives to the table, which can help to drive innovation and creativity within the team. This approach can help a leader balance technical business skill with core skills and achieve success in their role.

Achieving success in any organization, particularly in the executive suite, requires a careful balance between technical business acumen and softer skills like collaboration, communication, and problem-solving. A successful executive must be able to understand their industry and possess the ability to manage and work with employees, clients, and their broader industry. The key lies in developing multidisciplinary thinking – the ability to integrate both technical and softer skills together and view issues from different perspectives. This kind of thinking allows executives to identify creative solutions and make use of the talents of different departments in their organization. This will create better relationships between team members and the silos within the organization.

For an executive to be truly successful, they must delicately balance their technical expertise with their mastery of core competencies such as communication and collaboration. By understanding the value of both types of skills, investing in them, and fostering multidisciplinary thinking, an executive can achieve a healthy balance and gain the rewards that come with it. These rewards will also be felt by the team as a whole, as they will all feel that they have been heard, understood and that they were part of the collaborative success.

We all expect a leader to have an extensive understanding of finance, marketing, and operations to run the business effectively. A true leader will embrace the ability to communicate clearly with employees, build relationships with clients, and maneuver complex social and political situations with ease and dignity. And keep in mind that dignity applies to the organization as a whole and the core mission that everyone is working to achieve.

By blending technical know-how with a strong understanding of people and organizational dynamics, executives can create long-lasting, effective solutions that support their business goals.

The balancing of soft and hard skills allows leaders to skillfully empower the various departments or teams in their organization. This not only encourages collaboration but also helps to create improved outcomes.

In short, a leader should focus on the following:

Understanding the need for both technical and core skills: Leaders must recognize the significance of both technical and core skills and their interdependence. This balance will make the leader a more effective individual.

Creating a balance: Leaders should establish a balance between technical and core skills that best meets the needs of the business. They should also be conscious of their strengths and weaknesses. A true leader is devoted to improving their weaknesses on a daily basis.

Strengthening technical skills: Leaders should improve and refine their understanding of the technical aspects of their business to make the right decisions and lead their teams effectively. Leaders should be able to communicate complex details to those in other silos who do not understand the more technical side of the house.

Enhancing core skills: Leaders must strive to continuously improve their communication, collaboration, and leadership skills. Effective communication helps to build trust and support cooperation between team members.

Promoting multidisciplinary thinking: Leaders can stimulate multidisciplinary thinking by motivating their team members with varied backgrounds and experience to voice their opinions and work together. This brings novel ideas and answers to the table. By promoting multidisciplinary thinking the leader will validate the personal worth of everyone in every silo.

My high school math teacher, Mr. Davis, was a mathematical genius and a whiz. It was clear that he knew what he was talking about. He lived and breathed every textbook that he taught from. But, in the end, he did not understand how to talk to people. Unfortunately, that was the most boring and unenlightening course I ever took. I was not the only one that didn’t understand a word he said. We uniformly left his classroom frustrated. Don’t be Mr. Davis.