The Irreplaceable Human: Soft Skills for the Future
Thoughts on the importance of soft skills for navigating the future with confidence and success & make yourself AI-irreplaceable.
In this article, I’ll talk about critical soft skills—one of the few things only that cannot be replicated by artificial intelligence. Yet.
Human vs AI
Without giving in to the fears and anxiety of an AI-dominated future with high unemployment and sad, disconnected people attached to their AI-led devices (oh wait - that’s been already happening for a while!) here are what I believe the essential skills that will be the differentiators in the workplace of the future.
Empathy
Our world has become more & more digital & automated, but empathy is still the vital skill that distinguishes us as humans. Empathy allows us to understand and connect with others on a deeper level, building trust, collaboration, and effective communication. I like to say that empathy is “the most human thing of all”. A hug when you’re having a bad day, nodding in acknowledgement when someone’s describing their bad experience - no AI can replace that.
Too much empathy never hurt anyone. None - did.
Simon Sinek explains it here best.
While Siri can say sorry, you know it can’t really feel it or understand it. It doesn’t bring you the comfort that another human being can. In customer experience - I referred to this era as H2H - human-to-human interactions that are empathy-driven & technology-enabled. In this order. I strongly believe that companies that will automate everything will be the next to fail. And fall.
Emotional Intelligence
You might already know this: today & in the future workplace, it’s not the IQ that makes the difference - it’s the EQ: your emotional intelligence.
Someone with high emotional intelligence is self-aware, able to recognize and understand their own emotions, strengths, and weaknesses. I’m dedicating the rest of this article to the few very important skills related to emotional intelligence that are critical in the workplace of the future.
Navigating Complexity
AI may excel at processing data and executing tasks, but it falls short in understanding and managing emotions. Emotional intelligence—self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation, and social skills—remains a uniquely human trait.
Creative Problem Solving: Innovating Beyond Algorithms
While AI can analyze vast amounts of data and offer recommendations, true innovation will always come from human creativity.
"Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things." (Theodore Levitt)
While an AI can assist in generating new ideas, it is us humans who bring those ideas to life through innovative action. So our ability to transform ideas into reality is a testament to our creative problem-solving capabilities.
Adaptability and Resilience: Thriving Amidst Change
Out of all the skills in this article - this is most likely the hardest one to master. It’s not one thing - it’s a combination of a few key skills that you can develop & cultivate in time. Here’s how.
Embrace a continuous learning mindset
Actively seek opportunities to learn and acquire new skills. Developing this trait into a habit takes a lot of time and effort. Follow industry trends, attend workshops or conferences, and engage in self-directed learning. Meaning: take charge of your own development. The best advice I can give that worked for me and many of the people I coached throughout the years:
Accept that you will never know everything about anything. That acceptance comes with a feeling of liberation. So live your life in pursuit of always learning something about anything.
Build a supportive network
We’ve seen the importance of networks with the recent startup layoffs. Surround yourself with individuals who inspire and challenge you. Find mentors or colleagues who can provide guidance and support during times of change or difficulty. Maintain this network, meaning: nurture it, give to it and not just show up to ask when you need it. Support is about giving & receiving, not only receiving.
Embrace challenges as growth opportunities
This is a tough one I always see people struggle with. Instead of shying away from challenges, approach them as opportunities for personal and professional development. It’s hard to do in practice. But one practical tip I can offer is to seek out stretch assignments or projects that push you outside your comfort zone at work, allowing you to acquire new knowledge and develop valuable skills. For example, volunteering to lead a cross-functional team or taking on a complex problem can provide invaluable learning experiences and demonstrate your ability to tackle challenges head-on.
By actively seeking out such challenges, the brain is forced to develop new neural connections, strengthen existing ones, and rewire itself to handle unfamiliar situations more effectively. This process, known as neuroplasticity, allows people to become more resilient, flexible, and better at navigating various scenarios.
Practice self-care and stress management
Build resilience by prioritizing self-care, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and engaging in activities that rejuvenate you physically, mentally, and emotionally. I recommend apps like Headspace, Fabulous, Blinkist, Calm. We all think we’re adults and don’t need boundaries and rules, but we do. We are often good at setting rules and boundaries for other people but not so much for ourselves. You’re hearing this from someone who learnt the hard way, by going through two very difficult burnouts.
Here are few practical tips that can make a difference
Ensure regular breaks during work, set boundaries for technology use (yes - I’m talking about enabling screen time limits), practice gratitude journaling, incorporate physical exercise into your routine, explore new hobbies. I found that taking short walks during the day, even when you are at work, does wonders for your mental health, and so does disconnecting from screens before bed.
One that works really well for me personally: allowing myself to day-dream or just reflect while starring out the window of my train on my commute to work, instead of scrolling on my iPhone. I feel an immense sense of pride when I’m the only one around that’s not starring at her phone. And at the end of my 25 min train ride - I feel relaxed, peaceful and at ease. Some people might say: “well, you lost 25 min of your life you're never getting back and you could’ve done some work, check the news or something in that time”. To that, I say:
I did not lose, but rather I gained peace for myself. That’s much more valuable than anything else my iPhone can offer.
Day-dreaming & starring out the window or the wall have other advantages too. When we day-dream or just stare and reflect, the brain enters into a state of rest and relaxation, allowing it to recharge and recover from mental fatigue. This can enhance overall cognitive functioning and creativity. Daydreaming and reflection stimulate the brain's default mode network, which is associated with introspection, self-reflection, and generating new ideas. So next time you feel the need to work harder to solve a problem, I’d say stop what you are doing & reflect for 30 minutes by starring outside of your window.
Develop problem-solving and decision-making skills
Enhance your ability to navigate complex situations by honing your problem-solving and decision-making skills. Analyze situations from multiple angles, consider alternative solutions, and make informed decisions. Sounds harder than it is. Here are two tips I found to have quite an impact in my coaching conversations.
Practice critical thinking
Challenge your own assumptions, ask probing questions, and evaluate information objectively to develop a deeper understanding of problems and generate innovative solutions. You will never know everything about anything & there’s no point pretending.
Seek diverse perspectives
Engage with colleagues, mentors, or professionals from different backgrounds to gain diverse insights and broaden your problem-solving toolkit. Even if you have worked in your field of expertise for 15 years, remember: you will never know everything about anything & there’s no point pretending.
Effective Communication
Communication nuances are not easily replicated by AI. The art of effective communication—listening actively, articulating ideas clearly, and conveying messages with empathy - is really an art you can master over time with practice and dedication. Your ability to communicate well is crucial in building strong relationships and resolving conflicts. More than anything, the way you communicate results into a perception people will form about you. And while you can change words, projects, deadlines - people’s perception of you is very difficult to change. Add to that the complexity of cultural differences. In my article here, I’m providing many proven tips and techniques I’ve been using for years in my coaching sessions for improving communication skills.
My Point
In a world that’s more and more digital & in the near-future - AI-enabled, it is our soft skills that AI cannot replicate and hence make us stand out, be successful & yes, irreplaceable. By enhancing these soft skills, you can thrive in the workplace of the future, create deeper connections with people & build that great support network we all need to fall back on, in good times and hard times.
About me
Hi - I’m Benonica. With 16 years experience as a CX Leader, People Manager & Coach - I created this Substack to empower people to transform their career & relationship with work, colleagues & themselves. I write about coaching, leadership, customer experience, startups, and thinking about AI & how it will change our world. If you need a coach - happy to have a conversation.