Discussion Guides
Communicating Effectively Discussion Guide
As a leader, it’s essential to recognize the importance of effective communication and to set the tone for proper communication …
The recent introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace has led to more automation than ever before. Because of this shift, the demand for and value of human skills have risen exponentially. Honing the inherently human abilities that AI cannot replicate is now how organizations can set themselves apart in an AI-saturated world.
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into the workplace, the demand for human connection, creativity and judgment has grown. With technology handling more technical tasks, soft skills have become more valuable than ever, as they cannot be replicated by AI. These soft skills have become the ultimate differentiator, helping organizations distinguish themselves in a playing field that’s been leveled by technology.
Though hard skills are still essential, research has proven that soft skills are more important for job success. A study from Harvard University found that 85% of job success comes from soft skills. Given this value, it’s more important than ever for organizations to invest in developing these soft skills in their teams.
The most in-demand soft skills we see today include:
Emotional intelligence has been defined as “a set of emotional and social skills that influence the way we perceive and express ourselves, develop and maintain social relationships, cope with challenges and use emotional information in an effective and meaningful way.”
In the workplace where AI addresses the technical side of work, emotional intelligence allows leaders to address the human side of work. No matter how automated a workplace becomes, interacting and maintaining relationships with other humans will always be needed. With emotional intelligence, leaders can go beyond the obvious, interpret what isn’t being said directly and get at the heart of desires and motivations. Leaders can use these insights to connect with their team and build positive relationships. This human connection is, and always will be, vital in the workplace.
Critical thinking is the ability to objectively analyze information and perspectives to make a reasoned and informed decision to solve a problem or achieve a goal. AI is proficient at aggregating data and identifying trends, but it takes a human touch to understand which insights are most important and how they apply to company goals. For example, leaders with critical thinking skills analyze team members’ input and compare these suggestions to company goals to find the most effective solution for the problem at hand.
Critical thinking skills are valuable in an AI-driven workplace because they allow leaders to make strategic decisions based on the bigger picture and desired outcomes. Critical thinking also involves a degree of creativity, where leaders can find innovative solutions to the challenges their teams are facing.
Communication is key in bridging the gap between artificial and human intelligence in an AI workplace. While AI tools can help leaders refine their messaging, they cannot replace the need for leaders to have effective communication skills for in-person and virtual conversations.
Communication skills ensure that leaders’ messages consider the context of the situation. Adapting to context is an inherently human ability that allows leaders to tailor communication to the audience to build trust and sustain relationships.
If speaking is one side of the communication skills coin, active listening, the ability to understand and engage with another’s thoughts, is the other. Leaders need to be able to listen to their employees’ verbal dialogue and nonverbal cues. These insights allow leaders to identify opportunities for improving worker satisfaction, teamwork and more.
Collaboration skills are critical to drive your organization forward. When teams are able to work together, they’re more effective at solving problems, finding innovative solutions and accomplishing more. Collaboration skills include actively listening, sharing ideas freely and engaging in constructive feedback loops. These ideas are shared across roles and teams to finish projects and meet goals.
For example, collaborative leaders gather insights from their team and turn them into action items, assigning them to their team members based on their knowledge and expertise. Collaboration is essential for building interpersonal connections and community, something AI is incapable of.
Adaptability is an essential soft skill in an AI-driven workplace. As your organization’s roles and work processes continuously change, teams need an adaptable leader who thrives during expected and unexpected changes and encourages them to do the same. For example, adaptable leaders encourage their teams to be open to change and guide them through uncertainty with continuous learning content and mentoring programs.
In an AI-saturated market, the true differentiator will be how well a company can maintain its humanness. Even though AI has many capabilities, it can’t replicate skills that are both inherently human and deeply vital to the success of any workplace.
While AI delivers on practical tasks like data analysis, your employees can leverage their human-centric soft skills to round out the team’s capabilities. As the future of the workplace promises more technology, organizations can win by delivering the humanness that their workplace needs to succeed.
Soft skills set your organization apart in a market inundated with technology. Your organization needs to invest in soft skill development to begin building the skills that will differentiate it, now and in the future.
The Center for Leadership Studies (CLS) offers courses that teach essential soft skills to enhance leadership effectiveness. Our Situational Leadership® Essentials course teaches leaders essential soft skills, like adaptability and communication, that they can use to create a more efficient workforce.
Explore the various courses we offer, and contact us to learn more about AI and soft skills.
