The total number of possible moves in the board game Go is greater than the number of atoms in the universe. The achievements of Go masters — people who are able to discern the best strategy and gameplay from a game of limitless possibilities — are no easy feat. However, in 2016, a Google-developed AI program AlphaGo, won against Lee Sedol, the grandmaster of all Go masters. This resulted in unprecedented shock over how easily AI could outmanoeuvre and outsmart the best of humans and its overwhelming potential at changing the future landscape.
“ On its own, in just a few hours of self-play, it achieved a level of skill that took human beings 1,500 years to attain. Only the basic rules of the game were provided to AlphaZero. Neither human beings nor human-generated data were part of its process of self-learning. If AlphaZero was able to achieve this mastery so rapidly, where will AI be in five years? ”
Henry Kissenger
We are slowly feeling the impact of digitalization and automation in our workplace. From a survey by consulting firm McKinsey & Company, it is found that by 2030, 375 million workers — around 14 percent of the global workforce — may need to switch occupation. 66 percent of respondents from another survey also sees the increasing need to retrain and upskill workers, so as to address potential skill gaps related to automation and digitalization.
However, we should see AI as an opportunity to boost workplace productivity rather than a threat. With AI potentially replacing jobs that comprise of repetitive tasks, number crunching and basic literacy, the value of work that heavily relies on soft skills will increase. Soft skills are viewed as irreplaceable skills and are ever more important in the eyes of HR professionals in today’s age. Soft skills are also skills that cannot be easily picked up by automation. In the same McKinsey & Company report mentioned above, it is estimated that the demand for social and emotional skills will grow across all industries by 26 percent in the US and 22 percent in Europe. Such social skills include having a growth mindset, being adaptable and being innovative. We shall explain how these will help an individual to gain an edge in the age of AI.
- Adopting a Growth Mindset
AI is constantly developing and improving, humans should do the same too, in order to stay ahead of this learning curve. Having a growth mindset means that one will persist in spite of failures, and they believe that they are not limited by their environment or circumstance. They will consistently try different methods to improve and learn, so that they could eventually achieve success. This can ultimately help to promote persistence, creativity and confidence.
- Being Adaptable
We have all by now heard of the phrase “adapt or die”. Adaptability is known now as the new competitive advantage in the workplace. In an ever-changing world, it is important for an individual to be able embrace change and stay calm when things do not go according to plan.
- Being innovative
The dynamic marketplace calls for the need to innovate so as to stay relevant and differentiate your product from your competitors. Being innovative requires one to combine their creativity, their problem-solving ability, as well as their functional and technical skills. Innovation could help enhance efficiency and productivity in the workplace, as employees will constantly seek to improve existing processes. They may also utilise the limited resources available to them in an optimal, creative and innovative way.
The 3 ways above are just some examples of the skills and mindsets we should possess to become more irreplaceable. Soft skills can be developed through experiences from internships, school activities and clubs. However, it is difficult to identify and measure these skills and show it to potential employers.
Most sought after soft skills by employers
In recent times, there is a trend towards using tools to assess one’s soft skills. Skilio is a soft skills measurement and analytics platform that provides comprehensive feedback for individuals and organisations on their soft skills development. We specialise in helping individuals stay ahead in the AI age by identifying their soft skills and helping them to develop these skills to the fullest potential. With Skilio, we can help you and your organisation to gain an edge in this age of AI through focusing on soft skills development.
Do grab your chance for a FREE DEMO (limited time) with Skilio NOW at https://forms.gle/XHbYxaywQEFYLDMPA
