The history of humanity has been the history of the development of skills required for mankind to survive and try. Our forefathers needed to be physically agile and strong to traverse the jungles and deserts to fulfill basic biological and physiological needs. Over the years thanks to human ingenuity and collaboration, mankind has learned the power of innovation and over time has created a plethora of tools and technologies to make life better for everyone.
Today, as we reflect on the skills of the future, we realize that for us to survive and thrive in the future, we need a combination of technical and behavioral skills. A bestselling author and Stanford alumnus, Scott Hartley calls it the “Age of the Fuzzy and the Techie”, epitomized by the whole brain thinking which is becoming mandatory in the 21st century.
During the mid of the pandemic, the World Economic Forum, quoting Dr. John Kao former professor at Harvard. MIT and Yale identified Six Critical bits of Intelligence (or Skills) for surviving and thriving in the post-pandemic era. These include Contextual Intelligence, Moral and Ethical Intelligence, Emotional and Social Intelligence, Technological and Digital Intelligence, Generative and Innovation Intelligence, and Transformation Intelligence (Leadership). A closer look at the list helps us appreciate the combination of Hard and Smart Skills that are much needed in combination in this age of uncertainty and complexity.
Hence, future skills, both “hard and smart” are now becoming essential for success and growth in the age of AI, Big Data, and Robotics. The future professional who has not acquired these skills before entering the workforce will struggle to adapt to the ever-changing and demanding employment landscape of the digital age — an age where new competencies and skills are required, past and current jobs no longer exist, and new jobs evolve continuously and rapidly.
Future Skills commonly referred to as 21st Century Skills or “Essential Survival Skills” are classified as hard and smart/soft skills
A HARD LOOK AT HARD SKILLS
Hard skills typically fall into two broad categories: CER (Coding, Electronics & Robotics) & STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics). The Digital Age of AI and Robotics will be characterized by communication with humans in human languages like English, French, Hindi, Spanish, and the like. Communication with computers and Artificial Intelligence machines will be through the language of computer code and algorithms. Coding and computational thinking are needed to become a successful coder and they are unquestionably important hard skills in the digital era. Another key hard skill is the understanding of robots and other computers designed to undertake ever more advanced, routine and mechanized tasks currently done by humans, including computational thinking, automation, and mechanization.
A CRITICAL LOOK AT LIFE/SMART SKILLS
On the other end of the spectrum are Life and Smart Skills formerly understood as Soft Skills. It is a mistake to believe that Soft Skills and Hard Skills are found in different kinds of people. Every coder and technical expert will also need to acquire these smart skills to survive in the digital age, just as every smart skill expert will need a good understanding of coding, robotics, and other technical skills. Surveys of employers worldwide consistently show that the most valued employees have a combination of hard and smart skills at their disposal. So, what kind of skills do we need for accomplishing the diverse requirements of organizations across the world? Team players with collaborative capabilities, entrepreneurial mindsets, critical and creative thinking, self-directed learning, emotional intelligence, and effective communication can make a huge difference in their success.
Let us not forget the many horror stories of extremely intelligent, technically competent leaders losing out and getting their careers derailed due to the absence of these smart life skills. Richard Fuld, former CEO of the now-defunct Lehman Brothers is an example of one such leader.
DISRUPTIVE COURSES OF THE FUTURE
Due to the convergence of multiple technologies and the rapid changes in the economic and employment landscape, a plethora of learning opportunities has evolved across disciplines. These include Cloud Computing, Cognitive & Quantum Computing, Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Big Data & Analytics, Blockchain, CryptoCurrency & FinTech. All these technical courses with specific applications across diverse industries like Healthcare, Agriculture, Urban Planning, Banking & Finance, etc. will fulfill the needs of the future. Increasingly these technical courses are combined with life skill courses and are thus creating wholistic professionals. Many leading organizations including Google, Microsoft, and IBM are willing to accept nano degrees and micro-credentials of these courses.
At S P Jain School of Global Management, there is a conscientious and continuous effort to combine the two sides of the skills equation to prepare leaders and managers of tomorrow. For example, all our business programs at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels are embedded with relevant technology-related courses. Recently we have also launched Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, with a specific focus on Business.
THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY & THE FUTURE OF SKILLS
Humanity’s future lies in the quality of the humans who will drive civilization forward. These futuristic professionals will be uniquely positioned to lead the world as “whole brain thinkers and doers”. Contemporary research in neuroscience reveals that all of us can use both the right side (creative, intuitive, emotional) and the left side (analytical, logical, etc.) of our brains with deliberate and focused practice.
The future belongs to the brave and the ones who continuously stay relevant embodying the mantra of “Learn, Unlearn and Relearn”!
Written by: Dr. Christopher Abraham Ph.D., FCIM | CEO & Head – Dubai Campus, SP Jain School of Global Management.
