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Editorial

These 6 Soft Skills Will Be Critical in the Future Workforce

4 minute read
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Taking decisive action now to develop these six soft skills will position your organization to meet future challenges.

As artificial intelligence reshapes the global workforce, it not only transforms job roles and spawns new opportunities but also highlights the growing importance of human skills. According to a recent upskilling study, abilities like critical thinking, leadership, creativity, and communication are increasingly recognized as invaluable in the emerging economy. This trend is driven by AI's capacity to assume repetitive and complex tasks, which shifts the focus to uniquely human skills that facilitate seamless interactions, foster innovation and bolster collaborative success in environments where humans and AI systems coexist.

According to Dave Barnett, Chief Administrative Officer, DeVry University, as “machines will learn to do many of the hard skill tasks that we see today, AI’s inevitable impact on the workplace is that people are going to spend more time leveraging soft skills or, as I prefer to call them, durable skills.”

In a previous article, I delved into the current landscape and challenges of soft skills development, as well as strategies to future-proof your workforce. Moving forward, let's examine some key soft skills that leaders, teams, and organizations should prioritize and develop—and explore why these skills are becoming increasingly vital in the age of AI.

1. Emotional Intelligence 

Emotional intelligence — the capacity to recognize, manage and express one's emotions, and empathetically handle interpersonal relationships — is increasingly crucial in the AI era. As AI takes over more data-centric tasks, the human side of work is shifting focus to traits like empathy, understanding and the subtle complexities of human interaction. This shift highlights the importance of skills such as motivation, conflict resolution, accountability and curiosity. Additionally, integrity is becoming a valued attribute, essential for unbiased decision-making, ethical considerations and principled leadership in the context of AI integration.

Related Article: To Craft Fulfilling Workplaces in the AI Age, Embrace the Human Element

2. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving 

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills, crucial for objectively evaluating information, making reasoned decisions and crafting solutions with logical and imaginative thinking, are becoming increasingly indispensable. As AI presents new challenges and complicates global dynamics, the demand for these competencies grows. Reflective thinking enables individuals to critically assess broader implications and contexts. In an era dominated by AI-generated content, it is vital that the workforce has the acumen to scrutinize and question these outputs, ensuring that human insight continues to refine and advance AI capabilities.

3. Communication

Effective communication across all mediums is crucial for professional success, with a particular emphasis on enhancing oral communication skills. Through our evaluations at MEvolution, we see that adept strategic communication frequently is a significant opportunity for improvement within many organizations, highlighting the urgency to bridge this skills gap.  Additionally, as AI automates routine tasks, humans are tasked with managing more complex scenarios. This shift highlights the increasing importance of advanced communication skills, alongside problem-solving, empathy and conflict resolution, to effectively navigate and excel in intricate situations.

“Critical thinking and communication skills will rise to the top as most important,” Barnett said. “Critical thinking skills will be key to an individual’s ability to take AI output, evaluate its validity and applicability and to adjust it to an organization’s context. Communication skills will differentiate those who can use AI generated information to support a compelling story that integrates additional organizational data points.”

4. Adaptability and Flexibility 

The ability to adapt to new conditions and overcome challenges with a positive attitude is crucial as the rapid evolution of technology demands continual learning and adjustment to new ways of working. As AI reshapes job roles and industry standards, individuals need to pivot quickly, embrace new challenges, and remain resilient amid uncertainty. This adaptability not only promotes personal and professional growth but also helps organizations remain competitive and innovative in a constantly changing global market.

Related Article: How Can I Help My Team Deal With Constantly Changing Priorities?

5. Leadership and Teamwork 

In the AI era, leadership and teamwork are crucial for navigating hybrid environments where human and machine interactions are intertwined. The integration of AI into workplaces amplifies the need for skills that enhance team cohesion, facilitate effective conflict resolution and foster leadership at all organizational levels. Gartner predicts that by 2026, over 100 million humans will engage robocolleagues to contribute to their work. As teams will grow more diverse and roles increasingly intersect with AI capabilities, the ability to lead and collaborate effectively in this mixed setting is essential. These skills help organizations leverage the strengths of both human and artificial team members, driving forward-thinking success in a rapidly evolving landscape.

6. Creativity and Innovation

Creativity and innovation hold paramount importance in the AI era because, despite AI's proficiency in optimizing processes and analyzing vast data sets, it is human capacity for out-the-box thinking that drives novel ideas and solutions forward. The ability to think beyond current AI applications and envision and implement new concepts is key to maximizing AI technology's potential. This creative human input transforms AI-generated insights into groundbreaking advancements, enabling organizations to not only adapt to but also lead in the changing technological landscape.

Learning Opportunities

In Summary 

It is imperative for leaders to actively engage in the cultivation of soft skills within their organizations.  As AI continues to redefine the traditional boundaries of work, the value of human-centric skills will only escalate. Start by asking yourself some key questions:

  • Do you know which skills are needed for different roles, career stages and business needs?
  • How effectively are you identifying, measuring, nurturing and rewarding these critical skills within your teams? 
  • What strategies do you have in place to ensure that your employees are equipped not just to cope with, but to thrive in an AI-augmented workplace? 

Taking decisive action now to foster an environment that promotes continual learning and development of these six soft skills will position your organization to meet future challenges with resilience and adaptability, setting a standard for innovation and collaborative success in a technology-driven future.

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About the Author
Sarah Deane

Sarah Deane is the CEO and founder of MEvolution. As an expert in human energy and capacity, and an innovator working at the intersection of behavioral and cognitive science and AI, Sarah is focused on helping people and organizations relinquish their blockers, restore their energy, reclaim their mental capacity, and redefine their potential. Connect with Sarah Deane:

Main image: Karl Abuid | Unsplash
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