“Upskilling” May Be Wasting Company Resources, And Humanity Is The Answer

4 Skills We Should Develop To Remain Relevant

By Jim Frawley, Bellwether

Thetraditional work model, as we have come to know it over the past several decades, is changing in real-time, right in front of our eyes. As we embrace remote life, corporate and small business offices are downsizing or closing altogether. Companies are evaluating productivity and budget and letting employees go as a result. New artificial intelligence tools are entering the scene, and it seems like we have only begun to scratch the surface.

So what does this mean for the current skill set of the workforce? How should we adapt both as individuals and organizations in order to cater to future skill requirements? And is the solution as simple as upskilling for future success?

Given the changes we have already witnessed, paired with a strong technology influence, it is more than likely that upskilling alone will not bridge the gap between current employee skill sets and the future of work. Instead of focusing on the concept of upskilling, we need a fundamental rewrite of traditional learning and development models.

Let us break this down into itemized skills. Looking towards the future, there are four uniquely human skills we can continue to develop in order to remain valuable: self-awareness, interpersonal connection, creativity, and facilitation.

1. Self-awareness

Having a strong sense of self is essential for change management – and more often than not it is important to take ‘awareness’ one step further towards ‘understanding.’ An individual with a solid self-understanding and awareness will be more dynamic when faced with unpredictable change, difficult conversations, and new thought processes.

This includes having a strong belief system on which to define the kind of leader, employee, or individual we aspire to be, as well as having the capacity to interact with and challenge others.

2. Connection

Interpersonal relationships will always set us apart from any technological advancement. Relationships hold such a high value in the existing workplace, and will continue to do so moving forward. Our ability to network, meet new people, and develop existing human connections fosters new experiences and success in the workplace. We are pack animals at our core and heavily rely on connections to grow, learn, and thrive, ultimately impacting our ability to elevate on both a personal and corporate level.

3. Creativity

The line between artificial intelligence and human innovation has grown thin and blurry, however, it is still present nonetheless. There needs to be a productive and compatible bridge between the two sides that drives a unique form of creativity and collaboration. How do we challenge the robots to go further than they have before, or brainstorm concepts that have yet to exist.

We must stay inspired to remain creative to preserve the separation between human and artificial intelligence. But here is the secret – those who adapt and learn to utilize AI tools to fuel their own creativity will find themselves lapping at others who fear, resist, and avoid these tools.

4. Facilitation

Our ability to interpret and facilitate discussion and project management will come into play as stand-alone tasks and to-do lists are swept away by automation. It really boils down to our innate potential to be strong leaders. We have the capacity to understand and execute a holistic approach to a situation, conflict, or project – and beyond that, how to delegate or guide others to succeed throughout the process.

What skill does each employee possess, where can we identify team chemistry, and in doing so, how do we maintain a ‘big picture’ vantage point that lends itself to the creation of high-quality work?

Archaic “training” programs are not preparing employees to face the impending challenge of competing with expanding AI technologies. Creating a course to teach a skill like coding will soon prove to be an unnecessary expense, and businesses will no longer be able to justify the time, cost, and effort when these tasks can be automated in a fraction of the time.

Alternatively, learning and development needs an approach that merges the needs of the business with personal capability, while placing an emphasis on human creativity and connection.

As human beings, we have the ability to change our own thought processes, including the way we interpret and request information in order to think in terms of parameters rather than itemized tasks. It is our responsibility to recognize and accept the presence of technology, and allow it to consume inconsequential, monotonous work, in order to position ourselves as creators and thinkers – not just doers.

We have to let go of our stress and haste towards acquiring technical or finely-tuned skills, when technology is rapidly taking over these areas of business. Instead, appreciate what separates humanity from artificial intelligence – self-awareness, human connection and relationships, creativity, and management. What separates us will also position us to remain relevant and valuable in the workplace, and learning and development efforts have to begin shifting in this direction in order to support individuals and businesses alike.

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