There is no denying it anymore, there is an elephant in the room and we need to address it. It is the rapid decrease in jobs during the peak of automation in the coming decade. Many studies have tried to pinpoint the vastness of the change, but we simply cannot know, all we know is we need to be prepared. Jobs as we know and define them today will change.

It is in our genes, when something seems unpleasant, we avoid talking about it. However, this topic will affect so many of us the coming year, an avoidant strategy is not an option. Either we drive the train, or we get run over by it – we must through proactivity lead the change. How well we adapt to the change is dependent on how prepared we are for it. As leaders we must consider the organizational changes that will be faced and how we can support our employees during the transition.

As individuals we will need to consider if and how we can educate ourselves in order to broaden our competence and adapt to the changing needs of the organisation where employed and by the market at large.

With the increased automation that we face, jobs that are more focused on distinctively human capabilities such as empathy and creativity will be sought after. Scary, yes, but this can also open up for many inspiring, exciting possibilities. With the inevitable need to re-define jobs that we have today, humans will be able to have the freedom to innovate, create and inspire.

 

Learn more about innovation in the future of work:

AI & The Future of Work – TED Talk by Volker Hirsch:
ps://youtu.be/dRw4d2Si8LA
Harvard Business School Podcast, Future of Work – Ep. 9 How firms are building strategy around AI:
https://www.hbs.edu/managing-the-future-of-work/podcast/Pages/podcast-details.aspx?episode=6820866

 

If you have any questions about the insights we share or are keen to turn ideas into action, please contact Mattias Gustrin, Head of Insight, +46 734 30 14 92, mattias.gustrin@opticos.se