A September survey from Gallup uncovered that at least 22 percent of full-time American workers feared that AI would reduce their salaries and benefits, or replace and eliminate their jobs at the very worst.
Global investment bank Goldman Sachs reported that AI could result in 300 million full-time jobs being at risk of extinction, while the global GDP would continue to rise at seven percent. There’s no question that with recent technological advancements, especially with the rapid introduction and evolution of artificial intelligence, many employees are at risk of their roles becoming obsolete.
With all of this at stake, every leader and professional should make it their mission to futureproof their careers by gaining invaluable skills and experiences to enable career growth. Here are some things you can do to remain relevant:
Adapt to AI and automation
Demand for ChatGPT soared by 599 percent this year according to LinkedIn’s senior economist Kory Katenga, with the number of LinkedIn members who have held or currently hold the job title “Head of AI” tripling within the past five years alone.
With artificial intelligence becoming the new norm, it is essential to stay one step ahead of the game, whether you are an advocate for it or not. If you are exploring a completely new career, machine learning and AI programming might be valuable options to consider, especially since they pay considerably high salaries; however, if you desire to remain within your industry or similar role, incorporating automation tools into your work routinely will be extremely beneficial.
While some employers are providing their employees with upskilling opportunities to make the transition to an AI-powered workforce smoother, not all offer this, so the onus falls on you to narrow your skills gap. You can accomplish this through undertaking short courses, while practicing and familiarizing yourself with using new AI tools ethically.
Upskill your soft skills
Soft skills still play a significant role in the workplace, regardless of automation, therefore the value of developing these skills can never be underestimated or replaced by artificial intelligence. Soft skills are highly prized by employers, and there is an intentional and increasing trend to transition to skills-based hiring above mere qualifications and experience, LinkedIn’s Head of Product Development Rohan Rajiv noted.
Therefore in addition to upskilling with regards to automation and generative AI tools, one’s primary focus should be to improve their soft skills.
Some soft skills that are well-esteemed and favored by employers, clients, and business partners alike, which cannot be replaced by technology, include emotional intelligence, problem-solving, rapport-building, and leadership.
Let’s explore these in further detail:
Problem-solving
Thinking outside the box to resolve issues and to predict and mitigate potential risks is critical to business and career success. AI tools such as ChatGPT, for example, may be able to provide you with some answers to your questions, but they are limited to a variety of factors. For example, its knowledge base does not extend beyond September 2021 at the time of writing, and it is capable of generating biased, inaccurate, and sometimes discriminatory results that do not take into consideration the breadth of human knowledge beyond its training.
Nothing quite equals the boundless creativity that flows from a brainstorming session either on your own or with a team.
Release your problem-solving competence by habitually asking yourself, “How can I/we overcome this challenge?” “What is the root cause of this problem?” “What have we tried and what have we learned from this?” And when all options have been explored, ask, “What else?
Rapport-building
We are wired to emotionally connect with humans. Imagine how unnatural it would be to deliver a business case presentation to stakeholders relying solely on AI to develop the content, or sending in a robot or AI-generated person to initiate contact with a client.
Relationship-building is a most valuable skill that can never be replaced, no matter how effective technology is.
You can develop this skill through attending networking events (in-person and online), undertaking short courses and further study on communication skills, and establishing a habit of being approachable, genuine, and transparent in your relationships with people, thus strengthening their trust in you.
Leadership
Leadership is a set of skills and qualities beyond mere technical ability, that motivates people into action while driving and enabling transformative change. Whether the team you lead consists of five people or a global team of 5,000, possessing a combination of strategy, conflict resolution, coaching, empathy, decision-making, and performance management skills to incentivize and drive record performance is critical to your success as a leader or manager.
You can polish your leadership skills through undertaking management and leadership training, hiring a coach, reading self-development books on leadership, and listening to podcasts.
Be self-aware and critically evaluate your own management style, analyze areas for growth and improvement, and create an action plan to achieve your development goals.
Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence consists of one’s ability to perceive and process the emotions of themselves and others, while effectively managing their own. Empathy, active listening, self-awareness, resilience, and passion, are qualities that enrich the human experience, enabling valuable connections to be formed and business relationships to be maintained.
Assess your current emotional intelligence level through undertaking online tests. Then work to improve your EQ through understanding your motivations, analyzing how you respond to situations, recognizing how others feel, adjusting your perspective when facing difficulties, and keeping a diary to record your progress.
While the AI boom might be revolutionizing the way we work, it doesn’t need to destroy your career. Don’t wait for your employer to enforce mandatory training or to boot you out before you realize the gravity of the situation. Be proactive and intentional about your career, and commit yourself to continuous professional growth and learning. Through keeping abreast of latest technological developments and trends and brushing up on your soft skills, you can ensure you will not be left behind while the world moves on.
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