The One Skill That Will Define Success in an AI-Driven World

By 2034, traditional 9-5 jobs will become obsolete, giving way to more flexible and dynamic work structures. It’s one of many bold predictions from LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. And Hoffman has a pretty solid track record when it comes to betting on the future.

He predicted that social media would change the world – a bet that earned him $26 billion when he sold LinkedIn. Hoffman was an early investor in Airbnb because he saw the rise of the sharing economy. And he called the AI ​​revolution years before ChatGPT became widely available.

Hoffman says AI will lead to a more flexible workforce, where ideas are commonplace. If you want to succeed in an AI-driven world, it’s ideas (not effort) that matter most, according to Hoffman. That means your career needs this very human skill to conquer the future of work.

How creativity and AI will redefine the future of work

In this AI-driven world, the creator economy is poised to thrive. This means that creativity will count more than effort. Your ability to imagine, to create, to consider new possibilities: innovation is your currency, in the current (and future) economy. AI technologies will enable individuals to produce diverse content and products with unprecedented ease, thereby democratizing creation and allowing individuals to bring their ideas to life without considerable resources. This change is expected to reduce the cost of goods and services, making them more accessible. How will these changes affect your career? Or maybe a better question: what would you like to create for yourself? ChatGPT is ready to answer this prompt, it seems.

McKinsey offers a prediction full of forward-looking ideas: the current generation of AI and other technologies have the potential to automate work activities that today consume up to 70% of employees’ time. The way we think about “effectiveness” is already changing. For forward-looking workers, being better at your job means being more creative in your career. This doesn’t mean you should take up arts and crafts or start a dance company (unless you know that choreography). The message is: how can AI help you create the future of work?

What changes will AI actually bring to your career – and your life?

These are the forces driving the future. Read on to find ideas that will help you capitalize on these emerging trends in your career:

Increased consumption: Greater AI efficiency means increased profits in the short term. Hoffman and others predict that lower prices will result in the long term. This change could lead to an increase in consumption, as consumers would find themselves with greater purchasing power. This could result in higher standards of living and access to previously unaffordable products and services.

A massive increase in production: JP Morgan Chase predicts an increase in production that we haven’t seen since the introduction of things like the steam engine, electricity, or the personal computer. While the steam engine took 60 years to generate economy-wide productivity gains, and the PC took 15, AI is already transforming the way work gets done. This means that your career direction must change and adapt. Meanwhile, AI is already creating a wave of artificial content and fake profiles on Instagram and Facebook. It seems the rising tide of production lifts all boats, even the fake ones.

Transition to value and quality: With AI optimizing production and reducing costs, value and quality are expected to increase while costs move in the other direction. above the price. Accessibility to higher quality products at lower prices could shift consumers’ focus towards sustainability and brand reputation.

How to access the skill that matters most

The exploration of creativity, in the context of creation, is at the center of my coaching practice. Helping thousands of executives, entrepreneurs and future leaders see new possibilities is a handshake between creativity and innovation. In my work with Fortune 500 companies and FTSE 100 organizations, the human capacity for innovation and ideation remains a renewable (and inexhaustible) resource. Here’s how to access and develop your own creativity:

1. Slow down to go fast: Looking for new ideas? You must be able to separate the signal from the noise. This is what Cal Newport, the author of Deep work. If you want to improve your relationships, work and social skills, to slow down. Note that “fast food” and good food are often mutually exclusive – this is also true in our way of thinking. Newport says we have to practice slow readingwhich is the exact opposite of what you just browsed on TikTok. It’s counterintuitive, but slowing down is the key to speeding up your creativity. Newport says slow reading sharpens our ability to resolve complicated ideas and trains our brains to resist distraction. In a world full of distractions, slowing down is essential. What are you doing today to separate the signal from the noise and access your own innovation?
2. Two heads are better than one: Do you feed ideas from ChatGPT or other forms of AI? If so, you already know the power of a conversation. The key is to identify questions that can help you access your own creativity, so you don’t become overly dependent on ChatGPT. Collaboration is powerful, but outsourcing all your creativity is a dangerous game. In the future of work, AI is your new partner: how will you work together?
3. Cultivate vital soft skills: To create the future in an AI world, focus on the operating system that matters most: the human operating system. Invest in training to learn how AI works and how to use it more effectively. And focus on honing skills around a brand called You. Skills such as effective communication, collaboration and innovation are what the future demands. Who are you currently working with to ensure you grow your career from the inside out? How do you invest in your own creativity and explore what you want to create? It’s easy to mistakenly believe that AI will replace all jobs. Of course, some jobs will be replaced, but others will be created. And what you can create, with AI, is where you will find your future.

Creativity is not something that is reserved for others – for those “creatives,” whatever that might mean to you. Note that we all have the ability to create. In my work with engineers around the world, I am often told that my clients “aren’t creative.” But then I remember the words of John Sharp, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System – and home of the largest engineering school in the United States. Sharp tells Forbes“Look out the window. Everything you see was created by God – or by an engineer. While this might make some architects cry out, he’s right: who among us doesn’t have the ability to create things…even if it’s just a new thought? We create partnerships, products, services and much more. As you consider the future of work, you have a new partner ready to play – and that creative partner is AI.