Artificial intelligence isn’t going anywhere. While that is unsettling for some people to hear, others understand that AI is influencing — and will continue to affect — everyday life, and the future of the job market is one of the most anticipated challenges imposed by AI.
What does the future of AI look like?
According to a recent Gallup Survey, approximately 72% of Fortune 500 Chief Human Resources Officers have predicted that AI might replace a number of roles currently held by people within their organizations. Even though no one knows exactly how AI will affect the job market or change workplaces as we currently know them, many people recognize that AI has the power to eliminate some roles, though others will remain untouched and intact.
Consider the skills that you need most in the workplace
As a business owner, it is imperative that you protect your business to the best of your ability by future-proofing them against the unknown. One of the best ways to go about this is by focusing on the cultivation of certain skills. For instance, problem-solving is a top skill that nearly every business needs its employees to hone.
What are some examples of problem-solving skills?
There are six main components of problem-solving skills, including critical thinking, communication, emotional intelligence, flexibility, adaptability and resilience.
Critical thinking
Critical thinking is a must-have skill in today’s world of misinformation and misrepresentation. When you can think critically, you’ll be able to look at information, analyze it, decide if it’s true or false and draw conclusions. In a business sense, critical thinking makes it possible to logically assess facts and make well-thought-out decisions based on the information in front of you.
Communication
Communication skills allow you to share information and interact with people effectively, making them an incredibly important skillset to prioritize. The way you communicate might change — based on whether you’re talking, writing or sharing visuals — but the key components of communication is the same across the board.
This is especially true now that the working world is a conglomeration of remote, hybrid and in-person positions. The ability to listen actively and show empathy — no matter if you’re on a Zoom call or in a face-to-face in-person meeting — is essential.
The same is true for written communication! Each of these modes of communication requires a different approach, and by honing your ability to communicate, you’ll be successful in every scenario.
Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to manage your own emotions while simultaneously understanding how other people feel. People with high EI levels recognize their own strengths and admit their weaknesses while recognizing that others have their own sets of strengths and weaknesses.
Likewise, those who have high EI levels understand that other people might see things differently than they do, and they consider these discrepancies in viewpoints before making decisions. EI is a critical skill for everyone, though it’s especially important for those who hold leadership positions.
Flexibility, adaptability and resilience
Flexibility, adaptability and resilience are three skills that go hand in hand. People who have these skillsets under their belt end up being eager to learn, curious and open-minded, all of which are traits that high-performing employees embody.
In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic reflected the value of these skills when business owners found them in a position where they had to quickly adjust company operations. Some adjusted with ease while others found the transition to be rather difficult. At the end of the day, the difference came down to the flexibility, adaptability and resilience of business owners.
The skills that we’ve discussed above are not the only ones that people in today’s modern AI-focused world should hone. However, they are related to skillsets that people will need in order to flourish alongside artificial intelligence, like team-building strategies and data analysis.
At the end of the day, AI will undoubtedly alter the way we live and work as we once knew it, but these changes are not inherently bad. All it takes is adapting to the new wave of technology and prioritizing skills that will ensure the success of your business.