What do Jarvis and Charlie have in common?
I use ChatGPT 4.0 multiple times a day. I call it “Charlie,” an endearing term for my “free intern,” who is better than me some days. He seems good at anything I train him on marketing, design, planning, and more. I imagine myself the way Tony Stark works with Jarvis in Iron Man, making friends and saving lives - but Stark could be an arse sometimes.
This brings me to the topic of this post: soft skills in the “future” workplace—and by “future,” I mean next year. Okay, maybe not next year, but soon enough. As AI becomes more integrated into our daily work and experiences, what will become of interpersonal relationships at work? Is a team still a team when AI does the menial (and not so-menial) work?
Soft skill set for the future of work
The answer is - yes! More than ever before, soft skills have escalated to new levels for functioning teams. The right soft skills are also slightly shifting because - according to a recent survey by Wiley Workplace Intelligence, which included responses from over 2,000 individuals - revealed that 80% believe soft skills have grown in importance parallel to the evolution of AI.
The more we lean on technology, the more we must cultivate our interpersonal abilities - like empathy, leadership, and adaptability - at all levels of an organization. Rapid change - like we are experiencing nowadays - can trigger conflict, so conflict resolution is a key component of our professional lives. AI bots might manage routine tasks efficiently but cannot think critically (is Charlie hallucinating or not?), understand team dynamics (think multigenerational differences), or the undercurrents that drive human interactions (think a sleepless mom of newborn), as a few examples.
Navigating the newest blend of technology and human skill
It’s been the trademark of my career to be at the cusp of change, making sure no one is left behind - especially the oldest and the wisest. Recognizing this, I was called to equip adult learners not just with cutting-edge technological skills but also with robust soft skills. Celis Academy - one of three business pillars at Celis Learning Architects - launched with a summer class schedule designed to bridge the gap between AI efficiency and human empathy, ensuring that participants become adept at managing in teams with the newest technology with the right soft skill set to succeed in the changing workplace of tomorrow (no, really, I mean today.)
As we navigate this newest blend of technology and human skill, the goal should not be to choose one over the other but to integrate both purposefully. By doing so, we prepare ourselves not just to succeed in the current landscape but to excel in a future where both AI and human skills are equally valued and necessary.
Kind Regards,
Maru C. Willson, M.Ed.
Chief Learning Architect
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