The world is changing all around us. With the rapid transformation and advancement of technology, as well as the new challenges faced by different industries, it has become necessary for the workforce to learn the skills which are relevant to succeed in the coming times. It has also become essential that we are flexible, ready to modify and evolve ourselves as required, in order to survive in the future job market.

Artificial intelligence is increasing the pace of change exponentially and therefore our own ability to be flexible and ready to learn new skills on an ongoing basis is a must. Remember that the only constant in our world today is change.  To meet this challenge, we must possess the ability to be adaptable, to unlearn old habits and skills and simultaneously be ready to acquire new skills and expertise on an ongoing basis.

These challenges also demand a modification in the manner Managers and HR evaluate the qualifications, experience and skills of potential future employees while recruiting. Those Managers who look for adaptability and potential, apart from those who just possess the traditional skills and degree qualifications are successful in recruiting the best and most talented persons. With the arrival of the era of Artificial Intelligence, it is skills that are unique to a human being, and which cannot be duplicated by a machine that will become the most coveted ones.

Keeping this in mind, it is becoming more necessary to identify and invest in those skills and competencies in employee development apart from considering them while recruiting. Therefore it is also important that we work on identifying the talents that will contribute to shaping the nature of work in the future.

Some of the most relevant and in-demand skills that will be a requirement for the future are :

1. INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP : In today’s dynamic workplace, having effective leaders are becoming more important than ever. But instead of the traditional leadership skills which focus on individual skills and knowledge, inclusion has become key. The leadership role of the future must focus on inclusive leaders, who are necessary for the changing  workplace culture and transformation of an organization.

By valuing team members, seeking their opinions and appreciating their contributions, company culture can be changed. It is essential to have an all encompassing view of the present and future requirements to transform an organization, its culture, customer demands and financial expectations to give it a strategic advantage.

• UPSKILLING, RESKILLING  & CHANGE MANAGEMENT : There is only one constant in the world of today and that is change. In order to meet the challenges which come with it, the importance of reskilling and upskilling cannot be denied.

It is only by acquiring new skills or developing existing ones that we can stay relevant in our current field. We can no longer rely on our traditional skill sets to perform in today’s environment, we need to evolve ourselves to remain relevant and meet current performance challenges.

Further, in order to grow and advance in the same career path or move to a different role it is crucial that we acquire new skills to meet internal job mobility opportunities or greater flexibility to acquire higher responsibilities.  

• CREATIVITY AND PROBLEM SOLVING : Repetitive tasks can be taken over by AI but  creative, critical and complex tasks will remain within the purview of human strengths and these skills will always be required in innovation and complex decision making. Coming up with new ideas, out of the box thinking, complex problem solving and decision making will always remain human skills which will be required in the future. So, these skills will always be vital in the areas of invention, innovation, creativity, brainstorming and complex decision-making scenarios.

Employees who possess these uniquely human skills and are able to solve complex problems beyond the scope of AI will be those who will be in demand and rise in their professions in the future.

• ACTIVE LEARNING : The world is progressing at a very rapid pace and with it skills are becoming obsolete even faster. Advancements in health care and preventive medicine are also playing a role as human beings are living longer, healthier lives and encountering more change with the passing of time. Jobs are changing and the skill  requirements are also evolving. The ultimate skill requirement to meet coming challenges is “Learn to Learn”. 

As the world is evolving, the skills that are becoming outdated, especially with the integration of AI and other transformative technologies are also accelerating. To survive and thrive in this scenario, employees need to adapt themselves as well as acquire new skills and knowledge quickly to keep pace with the changing environment. It is only by doing so that employees will stay employed and relevant in their industry.

• RESILIENCE AND ADAPTABILITY : With the rapid and complex change taking place these days, stress issues and burnout are becoming more common. With this, mental health issues are also on the rise. To counter these issues companies need to place emphasis on developing the skills that foster flexibility and strength to develop the ability to adapt to change. By doing so mental strength and wellness will improve by having a positive influence on employee engagement and retention.

Todays business world is facing greater levels of uncertainty and ambiguity. Employees need to navigate change, by being flexible and resilient as well as develop skills in the areas of crisis management, learning agility and emotional intelligence.

• TECHNOLOGY DESIGN : Using the power of technology to transform our performance for the better is to our advantage. By using technology as a tool for efficiency and productivity we can improve our performance greatly. Fears that AI may result in job displacement are relevant but to some extent only. Employees and companies need to redefine roles and positions in the management of technology instead of the execution of tasks. Tasks maybe performed by AI more efficiently, but the management role will remain with an employee.

Looking at the future scenario through this lens, employees will have the opportunity to improve the quality of their work as well as overall efficiency and productivity which would contribute to their own future benefit.  

We should remember that the ultimate skill is “ learn to learn “ . The world is evolving at a faster pace than imagined and with it skill obsolescence is also accelerating. The rapid integration of AI and other transformative technologies are big contributors to this phenomena.

In order to thrive in this landscape, employees must develop the ability to adapt themselves quickly, be ready to acquire new knowledge and learn to apply it effectively. By applying the meta skill employees are empowered to stay relevant regardless of the future changes in the industry.

Remember that in in order to survive – “In a world run by AI, the human qualities in our work become more important than ever”― Ashok Veda