Maya thought her interview went quite well. She had answered most of the questions, and the panel seemed satisfied with her responses. But a call from HR regarding the next steps remained elusive. Anxious, she herself reached out to HR to enquire about updates. 

“You did well, Maya, but we decided to go with another candidate,” HR responded.

Her heart sank. She had all the skills the company was looking for. She desired this job. 

“May I ask what I could have done better?” she asked.

“The panel felt that you needed to listen a little better. We are looking for people who are not only good at AI technology but also possess core human-centric skills in this AI age.”

That conversation left Maya thinking. As she went out for an evening walk, her mind started connecting the dots. 

In her previous company, she was quick to deliver, but she often had to rework. This made the turnaround time longer than what her manager expected. She recalled her manager once advising her to understand the requirements better before she began working on anything.

Maya was a quick learner. But in the race to master new technologies all the time, she had not understood the gravity of her manager’s advice. And she had to pay the price for it. 

Curious, she started thinking. What are the core skills needed in the AI era to thrive? What are the future skills essential for career growth?

As she walked, she started making a mental note of the skills she felt were going to be important for her. Listening. Critical thinking. Problem understanding. 

Maya was right. As she researched later in the evening, she found out that even Harvard Business Review and a report by the World Economic Forum had listed those core human skills as critical to unlocking the human advantage in the rapidly changing technology landscape. 

Human skills that matter in this AI age

The nature of technology is to evolve with time. What is the gold standard for today becomes obsolete tomorrow. Earlier, JavaScript and HTML5 replaced Adobe Flash for interactive web content. In recent times, demand for Hadoop and blockchain has seen some decline. At the same time, the requirement for AI skills has been rising at an unprecedented pace. 

According to the Thrivin’Up framework for personal growth, in the era of a constant flux of new technologies, those who thrive at the workplace are the ones equipped with the following core human skills: 

• Communication
• Critical thinking and judgment
• Adaptability
• Social connection
• Emotional intelligence
• Resilience
• Rest and reset

These are the human skills for future jobs, the power skills everyone needs to thrive in this AI era. 

Communication: Clear articulation and listening

Failed communication could be at the heart of a failed AI implementation. An unclear instruction given to a developer, or a slightly inaccurate prompt given to an AI tool, can create a flawed outcome in no time. Its impact potentially spreads across multiple teams and departments. 

Effective communication involves more than clear articulation. It requires listening carefully, being curious, asking the right questions, and understanding what others are actually trying to communicate. Yet listening usually gets overlooked as it gets hidden under the broader umbrella of communication. Thrivin’Up considers active listening as a distinct aspect of personal growth precisely for this reason. 

Critical thinking and judgment: Questioning the machine

AI processes large volumes of information in real time. It summarizes reports and generates recommendations as soon as you ask it a question. And the organizations usually work under tight timelines; employees are expected to be highly productive. 

In this context, it is tempting to accept a seemingly correct response from AI at face value. You might easily overlook the need to provide full context, challenge the response with nuanced arguments, or evaluate all outlier scenarios. This can quickly result in flawed decision-making, unmitigated operational risk, or the propagation of misinformation. 

Application of critical thinking can mean the difference between a well-thought-out AI implementation and a rushed one that brings disrepute to the organization. 

Adaptability: Learning continuously

As new technologies emerge at an accelerating pace, and AI continues to reshape the way people function, adaptability has emerged as a core skill to thrive in this new economy. 

With industries being reshaped by AI and job roles evolving rapidly, people must learn new approaches and abandon methods that are obsolete. Being curious, remaining flexible, and learning new skills throughout life are essential to navigate this environment that is always in flux.

Social connection: Your career differentiator

On a personal level, while AI algorithms are specifically engineered to maximize your screen time, genuine face-to-face interactions are foundational to your mental and emotional wellness. 

Professionally, your unique human network and collaborative skills are the ultimate career differentiators. Diverse relationships open doors to unexpected opportunities, while a strong social network provides a critical safety net during challenging times. 

Emotional intelligence: Moving beyond automation

Emotional intelligence has been regarded as a critical skill for quite some time now, not only in personal life, but also in the workplace. As AI automates routine tasks and makes them more productive, understanding and regulating emotions, resolving conflicts, internalizing constructive feedback, building trust with each other – all of these skills come to the fore and become differentiators. 

Machines can pretend to understand you, even extend their help in navigating conflicts, but the wheel is in your hands. How you handle a situation in real time is going to determine your ultimate value in the workplace. 

Resilience: Navigating uncertainties

Life is not smooth for anyone, and there is no exception to it. We all face setbacks. 

As technology keeps evolving, and brings more and more uncertainty with it, facing setbacks is likely to be more common than it has been in the past. The nature of these setbacks will change, and the degree of their impact on our lives will increase. 

Those who remain resilient in the face of these adversities will not only sail through them but also thrive in the long run. Building resilience takes time. But it can be done by integrating simple practices into everyday life. 

Rest and reset: The bedrock of high performance

Sleep and rest have always been foundational to health and wellness. Today, they are more critical than ever. As technology permeates every part of our lives, quality rest has become rare. You must learn to practice digital detox for holistic personal growth. 

A simple evening walk, away from the digital noise, calms the mind and grounds the emotions. Followed by deep sleep, it ensures you wake up energized for a fresh start.

Rest is the bedrock of high performance. A well-rested mind brings a deep, powerful presence to the workplace. Being able to switch off – rest and reset – is a critical skill of modern times that is rarely recognized or discussed. 

It all starts with self-awareness

Maya suffered a setback. But she was quick to self-reflect and identify which skills she needed to bounce back. She worked on those skills, found a job, and today she is more valued at her current workplace than in the past. She also feels more confident about herself. She has developed the core human skills needed in the AI era. 

However, it is not necessary to wait until an adverse situation hits you to know the skills you need to develop. Regular journaling or coaching conversations can help you understand yourself over time. A well-designed self-awareness test, such as Thrivin’Up, helps you self-reflect on your current behavioral patterns and choices. It helps you identify strengths and growth opportunities. 

You can then adopt simple daily practices for personal growth. This is the key to thriving in this AI age.