T shaped person versus I shaped person

Did you know that the shape of letters can be used to define the type of person you are? No, not all the letters of the alphabet, just a few such as an I, a T, an X or E. Their shapes can be used to describe the type of personality you have, especially on the work front.

Let’s use the letter ‘I’ for example purposes. The vertical stroke of the ‘I’ can be used to depict the depth of knowledge of an individual. This type of individual usually learns more by trying to be an expert in his/her field. And in verticals like software engineering, this is never going to be possible. While ‘I’ shaped individuals are necessary for organizations, staying ‘I’ shaped will limit your growth and success.

Similarly, for a ‘T’ shaped individual, the vertical stroke of the ‘T’ depicts the in-depth knowledge the person possesses, and the horizontal stroke represents the general knowledge he/she has across different domains. Thus, this individual can collaborate efficiently across disciplines and expertise.

Why being ‘T’ shaped will help you be successful!

In a world that is shrinking by the minute, challenges and solutions sought are not limited to a single domain. In a nutshell, everyone’s problem becomes your problem and collaboration is key to find solutions. This is why being ‘T’ shaped is necessary.

Examples of ‘T’ shaped people include Steve Jobs, Thomas Edison, and Hedy Lamarr. These inventors had one thing in common—they all had varied interests. It is these pursuits that allowed them to come up with innovations that are now the norm in our daily lives.

Changing from an ‘I’ to a ‘T’ shaped person

Are you inquisitive about different aspects of your domain? Do you get excited when a colleague talks about his work, and you want to know more about it? Does discovering applications of technology to different verticals excite you? If the answer to any of these questions is ‘Yes,’ then you are well on your way to becoming a ‘T’ shaped person.

Success defined by collaboration

At Mphasis, we share responsibilities, successes as well as failures. We have always followed a strategy wherein specializations, along with high levels of participation, define our success. ‘T’ shaped people, who are equipped with broader skills and knowledge, learn by linking up diverse perspectives from different specialties. It is employees such as these who form the backbone of our organization.