Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🔠 Like a T 🧑‍💼 Broad and deep skills
T-shaped

T-shaped

6.4
Having deep skill in one area and basic knowledge of many others
  • adjective
  • /tiː-ʃeɪpt/
  • Jargon
translation icon : T-shaped
  • Many employers seek T-shaped candidates who possess deep knowledge in one field and a broad understanding of others.

Examples

  • The valuable T-shaped people are those who have both the technical depth of expertise plus the ability to work well across projects and network across an organization, building the right focused conversations.

    Blog text (19)

  • In this respect, they mirror the views and work of Morten T. Hansen, who brilliantly points out the need for 'T-Shaped People' in his book 'Collaboration.'

    Blog text (19)

  • OK, T shaped means you have the the depths.

  • And the way we like to think about what we're doing in the D school is making students be T shaped as you see the picture.

  • To thrive in today's workplace, individuals should develop T-shaped skills that allow them to specialize and collaborate effectively.

  • The ideal team consists of T-shaped members, each bringing deep expertise while being knowledgeable about multiple disciplines.

How Versatile

versatile
55 6.3
T-shaped
  • Jargon
6.4
specialized
  • US
70 5.4

Surface Forms

T-shaped positive

Morphology

T-shaped = T-shape (semi-transparent) = T + shape + ed

The literal shape-based base is transparent, even though the specialized business meaning is a metaphorical extension.

Etymology

T-shaped for people comes from the same T picture: the vertical line stands for one 'deep' skill and the top bar stands for many 'broad' skills or knowledge. So calling someone T-shaped means they know one area very well and also have general skills across other areas.