t-shaped-connector
T-Shaped Connector
Overview
The T-shaped metaphor (deep vertical + broad horizontal) is widely used but rarely validated. Most self-described T-shapes are flat generalists — wide but lacking genuine top-20% depth in any single domain. The distinction determines whether a person can occupy a connector position: a structural hole between domains where information arbitrage creates disproportionate value. A true connector translates domain-A insights for domain-B practitioners in terms those practitioners find both novel and credible.
Compose with first-principles (verify vertical depth is real), pareto-principle (rank horizontal domains by arbitrage leverage), and deep-work (protect the vertical from horizontal erosion).
When to Use
Concrete triggers: evaluating a "T-shaped" hire for innovation/strategy roles; a team with strong specialists who can't translate across functions; career design question about leverage from existing expertise; building a first 3–5-person startup team; domain expert hitting a ceiling and considering broadening.
When NOT to use: pure-depth roles (senior research, specialized legal/medical); small tightly integrated teams with no structural holes; senior ICs whose value is defined by depth not translation (use circle-of-competence); time horizon under 12 months.