Staying Relevant In The World Of Automation And AI

In an increasingly automated world, concerns about job security are inevitable. Businesses are automating to enjoy improved efficiency and cost cutting, but these benefits are leading to an increased loss of jobs. This trend doesn’t appear to be slowing down. In fact a McKinsey report shows that 800 million jobs could be lost due to automation by the year 2030.

However, not everything is dire, predictions show that automation may not necessarily eliminate jobs but just change them, giving workers new tasks and sometimes create entirely new jobs. More good news, Glassdoor’s list of best jobs of 2018  shows that they all required “soft skills” like leadership, communication and team work. These are skills that cannot be automated easily.

As opposed to being afraid of the change, employees can adapt and find ways to remain relevant despite AI and automation. Here are a few things you can do:

1. Boost Your Soft Skills

As mentioned above, soft skills are more important than ever and are being heralded as skills for the future. On top of that, they are difficult to automate. Team leadership, management and written and verbal communication are among these. The McKinsey report says; “The hardest activities to automate involves managing and developing people, or decision making, planning, and creative work.”

The top 10 soft skills desired by companies and that every employee should work on improving, include:

• Communication skills
• Creative problem solving
• Time management
• Conflict management
• Stress management
• Emotional intelligence
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Flexibility/adaptability
• Storytelling

2. Become an Expert in your Skillset – Instead of Jumping to Learn Hot New Tech

Some jobs, particularly in the tech space evolve very quickly. New technologies and software are developed every other day and it is tempting to want to learn all of them, in order to become more marketable. Instead, do your homework and choose a competency to master or get certified in. Avoid being the jack of all trades and master of none.

However, do not ignore the integrations and add-ons available in your current competency. These can create new opportunities for you without you having to learn a whole new technology.

3. Be Flexible. The Nature of Work is Changing, So Must You

Automation will likely result in change. Should your job suddenly change don’t feel like you must up and leave. Instead, don’t think of automation as your enemy, see how you can work with the new requirements and parameters and use this new technology to attain your personal and professional goals. One of the great benefits of automation is that it does free up more time for creativity and innovation. Use this to your advantage!  

4. Keep Learning

One of the reasons companies take on automation in the first place is so they can stay ahead of the curve. They observe what competition and leaders in their fields are doing and see how this can work for them. Employees must learn to think like businesses by continuously learning.

Find out what the future of automation is in your industry and how you fit in. You might need to study and get new qualifications. In other cases, it might just be a matter of keeping on the pulse of changes in your industry via blogs, vlogs, webinars, and podcasts.

5. See the Opportunity

Automation is still fairly new, and machines still need people to maintain and take care of them; even the most powerful AI systems. Tech experts and professionals in machine learning have the opportunity to occupy this space.

Beyond being the person who builds and maintains the machines, you can very easily find yourself in the position to be the resource who helps companies navigate the ups and downs of automation and AI. In this way, you can make automation work for you instead of against you.

Do you have what it takes to stay relevant?

Employees should not view automation and AI as enemies but as potential allies that can help you redefine their work and achieve more. Let the IT specialists at ASB Resources one of the top business consultants in the country help you navigate the job market as it is being shaped by these new technologies. Schedule some time with one of our experts soon!