In my professional journey, I’ve worked in various roles — Pre-sales consultant, Business analyst, Developer, and Architect. Some days, I felt an immense sense of satisfaction, while others left me pondering the direction of my career and personal growth.
But as I delved deeper into these roles and examined the ebbs and flows, I couldn’t help but notice a hidden force that controlled the lever of my experience—the delicate balance between depth and breadth. This unique interplay determined whether I thrived in my daily responsibilities and, more importantly, whether the ratio of depth to breadth truly resonated with me.
In this fascinating dynamic, depth represents a state of mind where you immerse yourself in your own thoughts, focusing on finding solutions without constant external input or distraction from others. On the other hand, breadth symbolizes the beauty of collaboration—learning from others, absorbing their perspectives, and grasping the grand tapestry that lies beyond our own limited view. In addition to the focus and collaboration lens, depth and breadth should also be distinguished in terms of the volume of obligations juggled at any one time.
Depth and breadth aren’t polar opposites; they are intricately intertwined, just like the graceful dance of Yin and Yang. However, striking the right balance is crucial. If I lean too heavily towards breadth, I find myself in a shallow, chaotic territory where making meaningful progress feels impossible. Conversely, if I focus solely on depth, I become exhausted, develop tunnel vision, and fail to see the bigger picture.
I’ve come to appreciate the importance of this delicate equilibrium not just within specific roles but also as a guiding principle for long-term career resonance. Although I still experience occasional highs and lows, understanding this pattern allows me to avoid dwelling on negative experiences and enables me to make necessary adjustments.
It seems the significance of the depth-breadth ratio extends beyond work—it applies to life at large.
P.S. Whatever the volume of obligations, if we want to produce quality work, we would be better off rejecting the notion of multitasking and embracing single-tasking.