As our workplaces evolve to adopt AI and other technologies, the workforce is also required to adopt new skills. Notably, university students with STEM majors are in high demand and command the highest starting salaries.
Ironically, this might be the time when doubling down on your interpersonal communication skills is most important.
There's no question that the way we work has shifted because of the widespread adoption of AI technologies and their impact in terms of automating tasks, generating content, and providing unprecedented volumes of data. Certainly, we need to be technically literate to navigate and thrive in this new workplace. However, this shift also underscores the value of distinctly human skills, particularly in communication. Three of these most critical communication skills include clear and concise writing, critical reading, and comprehensive interpersonal skills--from small talk to formal presentations.
1. Clear and Concise Writing
With email and chatbots facilitating a significant portion of professional interactions, we might be tempted to back off on our writing efforts. However, when we employ AI for drafting emails, reports, and other documents, the ability to provide clear and concise instructions or inputs to these tools is crucial. Once the communication is drafted, it's the human touch--the ability to convey tone, nuance, and emotion--that ensures these messages resonate with their intended audience.
The skill of clear and concise writing is further amplified by our exposure to increasing volumes of messages. Mastering the art of distilling complex ideas into clear, easily digestible content is more important than ever.
2. Critical Reading
While AI technologies can sift through vast amounts of data to provide summaries and insights, they lack the human capacity to assess the subtleties of tone, implication, and context of the information presented. Professionals equipped with strong critical reading abilities can navigate the nuances of AI-generated content, identifying biases, inaccuracies, or missing elements that require a human perspective. This skill is invaluable for making informed decisions, strategizing, and ensuring that the information used to guide business practices is both accurate and relevant.
3. Interpersonal Skills: From Small Talk to Formal Presentations
As AI takes over routine tasks, interpersonal interactions will increasingly focus on collaboration, innovation, and emotional intelligence. Small talk often overlooked as trivial, particularly in our professional lives, plays a crucial role in building relationships and fostering collaboration. It's these informal interactions that can lead to trust, empathy, and a deeper understanding among team members, qualities that AI cannot replicate.
Formal presentation skills, whether to colleagues, clients, or other stakeholders, require a blend of storytelling, persuasion, and emotional engagement. Professionals must craft narratives that not only convey information but also inspire action and foster a connection with the audience. In this context, interpersonal skills extend beyond mere verbal communication; they encompass the ability to read the room, adapt one's message on the fly, and engage with listeners on a personal level.
While the widespread adoption of AI in the workplace underscores our need to be technically literate, the increasing importance of communication skills is unmistakable. As AI handles more of the quantitative and routine tasks, human-centric communication skills, including clear and concise writing, critical reading, and interpersonal skills, from informal conversations to formal presentations, become even more critical.
As we navigate this new AI-era workplace, the professionals who invest in these skills will be the ones who stand out, leading their teams and organizations to encourage innovation, build relationships, and drive success.
EXPERT OPINION BY ANDREA WOJNICKI, EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION COACH AT TALK ABOUT TALK
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