Thrive as a Leader in the Age of AI - 6 Essential Skills to Master
The age of artificial intelligence is here. The global market, already valued at around $200 billion today, is expected to grow by a 13x multiplier over the next seven years.
Within that environment, adaptability has become vital. AI, as we know it currently, can only partially replace humans' work. It can, however, nudge us to think about that work in new and innovative ways.
When office workers and leaders no longer have to spend hours on mundane tasks that AI can now accomplish, their time frees up to leverage other skills. That means, of course, mastering those skills to complement an increasingly competent suite of AI tools.
Only some people can become coders who build AI systems that are revolutionizing workplaces. But everyone can embrace soft and hard skills to maximize their ability to work alongside (and above) the comprehensive abilities artificial intelligence brings. Those who develop these six leadership skills will continue to thrive as professionals and leaders, regardless of their industry.
1. Critical Thinking
Think of AI as being able to take on many of the cognitive tasks that do not require much thinking. That puts even more emphasis on the higher-level tasks beyond that definition, which has caused a rapid rise in the need for critical thinking across industries.
Artificial intelligence will always tend to the data side of analysis. But what about those more subtle nuances that matter just as much? Are you able to listen not just for apparent meanings but also for subtle nuances that may only shine through in nonverbal communication or by knowing the cultural context of the conversation?
A key component of honing critical thinking skills involves mastering the art of argument construction. Drawing inspiration from classical Greek rhetoric, effective argumentation encompasses three fundamental elements: logos (logical reasoning), ethos (credibility), and pathos (appeal to emotion). While artificial intelligence has made significant strides in logical reasoning, human leaders distinguish themselves by their ability to integrate credibility and emotional insight. Those who effectively combine these elements will continue to excel and lead effectively.
2. Data Analysis
Many professionals fear AI is potentially replacing the skills needed for more analytics-related roles. The opposite may be the case. In fact, a strong argument could be made that even the most advanced machine learning and predictive analysis tools still need a human hand to be at their best.
Thanks to AI, businesses are capturing and looking to analyze more data than ever. AI models can help make sense of that data, but they cannot do so independently.
A career in data science alone may only be enough if you possess the programming expertise to train new models and algorithms. However, having a good understanding of advanced analysis and the ability to direct these models in the right direction can benefit almost every field, from marketing to production. Therefore, leaders with this skill set will become increasingly valuable, and data analysis will become ubiquitous.
3. Creativity
We may think of creativity and technology as opposites. But in reality, they have to co-exist, with creative leaders driving the cognitive functions that AI can supplement. While finding that synergy can appear to be difficult, it is far from impossible, as we outlined in a recent article on the relationship between the two:
Integrate technology into your creative process, such as using generative AI prompts to brainstorm and find new ideas to develop further.
Leverage technology to bring your ideas to life. AI tools that can quickly build graphics or code at a moment's notice make this simpler.
Optimize creative workflows across your domain, leveraging AI-optimized project management tools effectively to simplify the steps needed.
Leaders who can embrace these steps—without losing the creative thinking that AI still cannot come close to duplicating—will thrive. AI, after all, is still unable to duplicate true creativity.
4. Problem-Finding
AI, at its core, is still a binary machine. In the most literal sense, nuance does not exist. Just as a machine that can only create vertical and horizontal lines can never draw a true diagonal, any model that can only build on ones and zeroes will only be able to solve existing problems. Even worse, it will be unable to find answers to the issues that aren’t clearly identified.
For this reason, according to some experts, problem-finding will become a premium skill for leaders to master:
It is clear that even as generative AI advances towards human-like capabilities, there is no near-term prospect that it will replace human work. Human imagination and ingenuity will be the source of human work indefinitely.
Can you identify problems that may be more subtle or that deeply underlay an issue than an initial analysis suggests? Can you think outside the box to see the nuances that AI cannot identify? If so, your skills will become more indispensable than ever.
5. Emotional Intelligence
For all of its cognitive skills, AI has so far been unable to develop in-depth emotional intelligence. That, in turn, makes leaders who thrive in this field crucial. Being able to use their empathy to understand those around them matters for any organization looking to reach and communicate with niche audiences.
Take localization as an example. AI can benefit localization through its speed and always-on capabilities. At the same time, it cannot understand local culture to the degree that a human translator could. Popular symbols, implied meanings, and history leading to different interpretations of identical events are only visible to those deep in the culture.
Combine that with a lack of creativity, and AI cannot thrive independently when emotional intelligence is required. Instead, it will need the help of leaders who can provide this missing element.
6. Technical Understanding
Finally, leaders looking to succeed in the age of AI will need to understand how the technology works fundamentally. Not every leader is a coder, of course. However, knowledge of the fundamentals can ensure that even as the technology continues to make inroads, you can find new ways to engage with it and build your success.
That means understanding how AI works and where it falls short. Ethical considerations matter just as much as predictions about the types of tasks it may be able to accomplish soon. As closer collaboration with the technology teams driving the implementation and operations of AI becomes inevitable, leaders who can treat these teams as peers will build credibility and improve their decision-making.
Preparing to Thrive in the Era of AI
Artificial intelligence will continue to grow and evolve. We cannot assume that maintaining the status quo will enable us to continue succeeding. Instead, we must evolve with technology, building and mastering new skills to increase productivity, efficiency, and success.
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