Working in an AI world

If you look at any of the trends HR commentators are discussing as the new decade sets in, artificial intelligence (AI) is the hottest topic.

The ongoing investment and efficiencies created by technology and digital platforms means many things – some without us even noticing – have passed from man to machine.

This has undoubtedly removed much mundane from many a job, reduced errors and increased efficiency, but how does it impact the way we hire and manage staff as the future of our workforce is a combination of human labour and technology?

Firstly, the soft skills of people will become increasingly important – because machines cannot easily replicate great interpersonal relationships – internally and externally. A good cultural fit and an ability to develop and employ resilience will become increasingly desirable hiring factors.

In fact, Jeanne Meister, a contributor to Forbes, says the new expectation from employees will be a trifecta of ‘Powerskills’. These comprise of a combination of soft skills, thinking skills, and also digital skills. Taken together, these skills are the new expectation for employability in 2020 and beyond.

However, this also means businesses have to commit to maintaining a culture that protects and nurtures the holistic wellbeing of employees to help them maintain their levels of satisfaction, happiness and resilience.

Michael Fenlon, Chief People Officer of PwC, shares why this is growing in importance: "Worker wellbeing is impacted by several macro trends such as the growth of the digital economy and the increased need to develop resilience while we are being bombarded by constant social media notifications.

“PwC defined worker wellbeing in a holistic way, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual lenses and set out to identify specific practices that can improve wellbeing. These habits were identified in the PwC Habit Bank and range from reminding employees to stand up for short meetings, wind down prior to sleep, make time to be outside with nature, turn off smartphone notifications when not necessary, and actively decide what "not" to do as well as what to "focus" on!”