The world is an increasingly complex, interconnected place; in work as in life, we need a broad range of experiences to widen our knowledge, perform to our best and feel most fulfilled. But in education, business and government there is the growing feeling that we are being led down a rabbit hole of narrow expertise, forced to specialize too narrowly or shuttled into niche positions that don't make use of our wider talents.

In his book, The Mosaic Principle: The Six Dimensions of a Remarkable Life and Career, Nick Lovegrove encourages us to take a broader view, showing how we can develop the mosaic of skills we need to make the most of ourselves and our careers, to the benefit of all. Drawing on more than three decades of personal experience in different walks of life, and examining the inspiring stories of extraordinary people, from Churchill to Steve Jobs, Lovegrove sets out the six dimensions of the successful generalist, skills that enable us to take unorthodox steps and live broader, better lives.

He proposes that each of us needs to develop a set of coping skills and capabilities, which he calls the six dimensions of the Mosaic Principle. We need to:

Develop and apply a moral compass – the ability to focus our lives on a coherent purpose and set of motivations, and to resolve more complex moral and ethical conflicts.
Define an intellectual thread – so that our pursuit of breadth is not random or quixotic, but comes to life through substantive focus and insight.
Develop a set of transferrable skills, and build a common foundation for all walks of life – so that we can be relevant and effective in multiple different environments.
Invest in contextual intelligence – so that we are sensitive, responsive and adaptable to different contexts and operating conditions.
Build extended networks – so that we can leverage diverse and authentic relationships across different walks of life.
Develop a prepared mind – so that we are ready to accept more varied and challenging opportunities when they present themselves.

In every walk of life we have allowed ourselves to be pushed into self-defining cocoons from which it is difficult to break out. The Mosaic Principle guides us out.

Nick Lovegrove is a veteran consultant, executive coach and writer. He is currently the U.S. Managing Partner of the Brunswick Group, a global corporate advisory firm. Formerly a long-time senior partner at McKinsey & Company in the U.S. and the U.K., Mr. Lovegrove has also been a senior fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Date: Thursday, February 16, 2017

Time: 6:30-8:00pm (6:30-7:00pm-light supper & networking)

Venue: MIT Sloan, Building E62, Room 223

Parking: The closest parking lot is the Hermann Garage. When you turn into the E62 parking lot from Wadsworth Street, the garage is the very first right. It is a small garage without a gate. It is directly under the library. Another option is the Amherst Street/E51 lot. For more information, click here.

The Mosaic Principle: The Six Dimensions of a Remarkable Life and Career (CS #56)