Embracing the Round Pegs in a Square Hole World

In practically every industry, there are people who refuse to be confined within a single box, holding the mentality that the status quo is an unacceptable barrier to progress. They recognize complacency as a silent adversary. The people I'm talking about embrace exploration, learning diverse skills, and connecting seemingly disparate disciplines. These individuals are multi-passionates.

Many multi-passionates gravitate towards entrepreneurship, where they can explore their diverse interests and wear multiple hats without constraint. Their ability to connect ideas, solve problems, and drive innovation makes them exceptional leaders in their ventures. However, for those who remain within established organizations, their unique qualities still make them invaluable assets. As thinkers, they challenge the status quo, offering fresh perspectives and driving transformative change. As innovators, they are the driving force behind efficiency improvements and creative solutions.

For over a decade, I have embraced this identity myself. I've worked in agencies, corporate, and even founded my own successful design agency. I've been the managed and the manager; the creative, and the creative-thinker. In this article, I'd like to share my thoughts on the roadblocks I, and many others like me, have encountered due to our adaptability and how managers can recognize and support the expansive thinkers among their teams.

The Challenge of Being Multi-Passionate

The path of a multi-passionate creative is not without its hurdles; in fact, it's full of them. We frequently find ourselves at a crossroads, dreaming of unleashing our full potential, yet constrained by roles that fail to capture the breadth of our abilities. In my own journey, I have faced the frustrations of being pigeonholed into specific titles, despite consistently surpassing the expectations set for those roles. I quickly outgrow the box which I was hired to fill so I take on new challenges to stay engaged. While my peers and managers recognized my growth potential, I've felt "needed" where I was, which created a paradox where the very qualities that set me apart became the chains that held me back.

Exploring Opportunities

Even venturing into new career opportunities is a double-edged sword for multi-passionate creatives. In interviews, we often encounter the challenge of fitting into preconceived job descriptions that fail to capture the essence of our capabilities. The desire for a square peg in a square hole can result in missing the potential of a more adaptable, innovative round peg.

Multi-passionate creatives focus more on demonstrating their ability to adapt, learn, and effectively apply their diverse skill set in dynamic and challenging environments. While traditional job descriptions may present an exhaustive list of qualifications, multi-passionate individuals understand that practical experience, creative problem-solving, and a willingness to continuously evolve are what truly drive success. They prioritize showcasing their adaptability, cross-disciplinary thinking, and track record of achieving tangible outcomes, knowing that real-world results and tangible impact speak louder than a laundry list of qualifications on paper. Multi-passionate creatives offer a fresh perspective and innovative solutions that can make a genuine difference in any role they take on.

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Recognizing and Supporting Expansive Thinkers

Managers play a pivotal role in cultivating a work environment where multi-passionate creatives can thrive and contribute their unique strengths. By recognizing and valuing the qualities that set these individuals apart, managers can unlock their potential and harness their talents to drive innovative solutions within the organization.

1. ‍Recognizing and Leveraging Unique Skills: Managers ought to identify the diverse skill sets that multi-passionate creatives bring to the table. Instead of viewing their wide-ranging interests as a distraction, managers should lean into these individuals for fresh perspectives and multifaceted approaches to problem-solving. By tapping into their varied expertise, managers can allocate tasks that align with their strengths, leading to more efficient and effective outcomes.
2. Creating an Inclusive Work Culture: Multi-passionate creatives often bring together different knowledge domains, encouraging cross-pollination of ideas and creating an environment that values the exchange of information. A culture that embraces this diversity allows team members to learn from each other and collectively tackle complex challenges.‍
3. Encouraging Flexibility and Exploration: Multi-passionate creatives thrive when empowered to explore new areas and take on diverse projects. Managers who recognize this and allow for some degree of autonomy in task selection can inspire a greater sense of purpose and motivation among these individuals. Allowing for flexible job roles and encouraging them to pursue new interests within the scope of their work can lead to breakthrough innovations.‍
4. Providing Continuous Learning Opportunities: Managers can foster growth and development by providing multi-passionate creatives with ample opportunities for learning and professional development. Whether through workshops, courses, or exposure to different areas of the organization, this continuous learning approach helps nurture their innate curiosity and helps them expand their skill set even further and potentially close gaps within the organization.‍
5. Recognizing Successes and Contributions: Managers should acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of multi-passionate creatives when they achieve real-world results and tangible impact. This recognition not only boosts morale but also reinforces the importance of their diverse skills within the organization. Feeling valued and appreciated encourages these individuals to continue making a positive impact.

Advocating for Career Growth

To nurture expansive thinkers, managers must create an environment that encourages and rewards growth. Challenge us with projects that allow us to explore our curiosity and apply our varied skills. Let us lead and stretch our creative muscles. Rather than stifling our potential in predefined roles, craft positions that align with our unique skill set and ignite the fire of innovation within us.

Additionally, embracing multi-passionate creatives yields transformative results for teams and companies. Our ability to connect the dots between disciplines and spot bottlenecks unlocks efficiencies that lead to streamlined workflows and improved performance. By empowering us with impactful projects, companies gain a dynamic force capable of delivering deep and much-needed improvements.

My Experience

In my career, I was fortunate to encounter an incredible manager who recognized my potential as a multi-passionate creative. She embraced my curiosity, providing room for me to explore ideas, lead others, and pursue significant projects. The impact was palpable as we collaborated on projects that made a significant difference within her own company as well as within others when we reconnected. Her advocacy for my growth nurtured a sense of fulfillment and loyalty that elevated both my performance and the team's achievements. I am forever grateful for her guidance in shaping a curious and inquisitive mind.

Advice for Multi-Passionate Creatives

For fellow multi-passionate creatives facing similar challenges, I offer this advice: never compromise your unique identity. Be unyielding when presenting your skills, but do so with humility instilled with confidence. Follow the rabbit, explore every idea, document your thoughts diligently, and share your knowledge emphatically. Be persistent. Your passion will speak volumes. Your ideas and solutions will shine through. Your courage will inspire. As multi-passionate creatives, we possess a vast reservoir of untapped potential. Our journey may be fraught with obstacles, but we are truly our own best advocate. Recognize your worth, and find others who recognize it too.

To companies and managers, I urge you to increase your awareness for expansive thinkers by creating an environment that fosters curiosity and encourages innovation - give your teams room to learn and grow and lead.

The status quo is an unacceptable barrier - so continue to break it down.