Automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics- some of the primary terms one associates with a wide-ranging concept called the ‘Future of work’. In an era of rapidly evolving work culture, employees seldom think of how this new notion of work can bring about transformational changes.
Agile work structures, continuously reskilling workforce, redefined incomes are some of the other variations complementing this path breaking shift. And it is time that employees prepare of these accompanying changes by reevaluating their skill set.
New-age jobs, courtesy future of work, are all set to redefine the traditional nature of work, which involved execution of premeditated tasks. Hence, employees need to embrace the forthcoming developments with technology based solutions. It can be futile to just disregard future of work as a trend that threatens one's jobs.
Here are five helpful tips to make peace with future of work and all that it promises to revolutionize:
#1. Recognize that the nature of work is changing
It will be delusional for employees to believe that their jobs are going to be stable and skills relevant forever. The numbers speak for themselves in this regard.
800 million jobs will be done by AI and robots by 2030, as per recent data released by World Economic Forum. Research done by McKinsey Global Institute
found that ‘the time spent using advanced technological skills at work will increase by 50 percent in the United States’. The same will increase at a rate of 41 percent in Europe.
A study commissioned by The Alan Turing Institute also
reiterates how the nature of work is changing due to increasing demand of human resources. Greater availability of diverse workforce through varied online platforms is also contributing to the same.
Hence, employees can no longer afford to live in a bubble when it comes to steady employment opportunities. In fact, one who is quick to recognize workplace fluctuations will benefit from being able to respond and adapt in a more timely and effective manner.
#2. Re-evaluate your degrees and skills
It will be surprising to note that one-third of the new jobs created in America barely existed over three decades ago. Same holds good for leading companies of the world today which are involved in facilitating internet solutions, e-commerce etc.
The phenomenal growth of multinationals like Google, Amazon, Alibaba etc. show how it is increasingly difficult to predict customer needs and engagement over a sustained period of time. With changing priorities and market needs, the demand for hiring and retaining hybrid talents will also be crucial.
Therefore, employees can no longer cease to upgrade their skills and capabilities. Their learning needs to go beyond college degrees and extend to constant ‘upskilling and reskilling'. These newly acquired skills need to be in tandem with current marketplace requirements.
#3. 3 Cs- Creativity, curiosity and critical thinking
Employees need to develop skills that machines and robots will take a while to replace. These involve nurturing traits such as creativity, curiosity and critical thinking.
Though most of these qualities are innate, sharpening of perceptive skills can enable employees to come up with innovative solutions to unseen problems.
In a competitive workplace, those with an eye for genuine imagination are more probable to draw parallels from different domains. This enables them to foresee consumer behaviour better and thus come up with pioneering solutions.
#4. Empathize and be more collaborative
Empathy, one of the most innate human qualities is mostly in short supply among contemporary workers. In fact, it is foundational to maintaining long-lasting interpersonal relationships and devising intuitive, culture-specific solutions to problems.
Moreover, to thrive in a new-age workplace, employees need to also gel along with employees from different generations. For employers, it is key to tap into the best of what every generation (traditionalists, baby boomers, Gen X, millennials and Gen Z) has to offer.
Thus, refining one’s people skills to collaborate better (both in real and virtual set-ups) is vital for employees.
#5. Prepare for the future of work
McKinsey surveyed youngsters and employers across nine countries. In their
findings, over 60 percent respondents felt that ‘the new graduates were not adequately prepared for the work of work’. Many employers listed gaps in technical and soft skills among entry-level employees.
Even as automation is touted to replace routine jobs, it has the potential to create more meaningful and adaptive jobs. Along with new opportunities, it may also flatten job structures and redefine wages and social security benefits.
Therefore, it is only sensible for employees to embrace the new trend or they may risk their valuable career progression. On other hand, employers and governments need to re-orient their educational systems and training process to engage employees more industriously.