Human Capital: how to be prepared for an increasingly automated future?

For a long time people have been wondering what the future of professions will be in the face of a world marked by rapid and significant changes brought about by technological innovations. In the face of so many uncertainties, how can we be prepared for innovations and the possibility of having some obsolete activities? We need to be resilient to act in the face of challenges and understand that automation, instead of replacing our professions, will bring us opportunities to reinvent ourselves. Technology expands the importance of our experiences, skills and creativity. Considering this reflection, I bring you 10 skills that are already important for the current job market and that will be essential for the future.

1-  Adaptation and flexibility. Having the ability to adapt to new ideas and different ways of evaluating and solving problems is essential in view of the rapid changes that the world brings us. We will often encounter new conditions and assignments at work, different activities and responsibilities, people with different thoughts and ways of working, and especially with new demands and expectations from the labor market that tends to be so inconstant. In addition to agility, it is important to develop flexibility to respond positively to new ways of working, as well as to recognize different realities and points of view.

 2-  Analytical ability. Developing critical thinking can be decisive for achieving results during your activities and for exceeding expectations. It is about having the ability to organize ideas, consider different scenarios, possible consequences and accurately analyze, compare and synthesize information, which can lead you to make more effective decisions.

 3-  Creativity. I would say that being creative has become essential. We are all creative! What we must do is seek to develop this capacity to find creative solutions to problems and connect our ideas and experiences to generate innovation and different results.

 4-  Emotional intelligence. Having the ability to know and control our emotions, as well as having empathy in seeking to understand other people's emotions and being willing to help. Emotionally intelligent professionals are able to create good relationships, have a healthy relationship during teamwork, and easily avoid and resolve conflicts. It is about developing our self-awareness and self-control.

 5-  Technology. Being familiar with technological innovations is crucial for any professional. This includes adapting to cloud computing, getting to know mobile devices and social media, understanding data science (Big data), being aware of cyber security, robotics, artificial intelligence, among other concepts that are worth raising our knowledge and learn more about. Virtual reality is increasingly present in all professions.

 6-  Leadership. This skill is not just a hierarchical relationship, nowadays what is expected of all professionals, regardless of their role, is the ability to understand and bring inspirations to the team. Teachings can come from any level, the important thing is the positive influence you can have on people and the end result. It is also interesting to emphasize the ability to collaborate, which includes the ability to relate well with people, generate interaction in the team and share their knowledge.

 7-  Cultural intelligence, diversity and inclusion. Dealing with multiculturalism and respecting differences, not only in the workplace but also in all areas of our lives, is a priority today. We will increasingly live with people of different race, age, sex, sexual orientation, and religion, for example. Understanding that we are not all equal and adapting to people from different cultures is much more than respecting, it is learning new habits, behaviors, new ideas, customs, stories and being curious to understand other people as they are and with all the cultural knowledge they have to share with us.

 8-  Effective Communication. Communicating assertively is relevant for every professional. Through communication, whether written or verbal, we can clearly express our ideas and opinions, lead a team effectively, relate better to people, that is, know how to get a message across correctly. It is also important to highlight the relevance of effective listening, that is, we need to learn to focus our attention while the other communicates with us, and the development of body language.

 9-  Decision making. It is not enough to be concerned with the in-depth analysis of information / scenarios, but also with making effective decisions. The ability to be able to solve complex problems is extremely requested by all professionals. Developing your self-confidence, knowing how to work independently, without needing constant supervision, and delivering the expected results is essential for you to stand out in the work environment. We need to be proactive, that is, to know how to anticipate demands, conduct projects, solve problems and make decisions.

 10-  Time management. Among all the skills, this is one of the most talked about by professionals. Every professional must have the ability to manage their activities with quality and commitment. Many companies have a fast pace and great demand, and to handle your responsibilities it is essential to have the ability to manage your time, so that you can easily be efficient and achieve your results.

Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day after day. - Robert Collier

 We must be aware of the skills of the future and the need to reinvent ourselves every day. We need to develop new skills not only for our personal and professional growth, since this way we will have a more flexible career in the face of the impacts generated by automation, but also to contribute to others and the world. It is important to have the ability to connect with ourselves and with other people, and for that it is extremely important to have the courage to accept that we need to change, to have an open mind and to evolve.