Have you heard of digital amnesia? It’s when people have trouble recalling events that have not been captured on camera or shared and viewed on social media. Have you read about the declining spatial memory skills in 21st-century humans? It’s happening since we no longer rely on spatial memory to navigate unfamiliar areas. We can simply follow the directions provided by our convenient handheld devices.
New technologies, such as generative artificial intelligence (AI), have changed the function of human memory. What you have learned isn’t important. How quickly you can unlearn what you know and train your mind to relearn what it needs is what matters. Instead of worrying about linearly memorizing a bunch of facts, you can now be more economical in how your cognitive and learning muscle is used. Once you embrace the humility of being unable to remember everything, you will also realize the futility of using human memory for rote learning.
Embracing Growth
Studies continue to emphasize the need for continuous upskilling and reskilling. Generative AI is also significantly changing industries and economies around the globe. As it rapidly transforms the way companies operate and create value for their clients, individuals must also evolve and adapt how they work, what they learn and the skills they prioritize.
As automation increases, human skills related to teamwork, empathetic collaboration and emotional intelligence will have the potential to drive human success. The best people managers aren’t necessarily those who bring in the most business but those who can bring teams together, collaborate effectively by breaking down silos and address conflict by leveraging skills such as active listening. The ones who can use individual strengths to find common ground and facilitate the best outcome.
While staying current with our domain and digital skills will still be necessary in the future world of work, the more abstract strengths of curiosity, agility, resilience and knowing which risks are worth taking will be critical to navigating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. To create simple ideas to solve complex problems that machines still don’t have an answer for, we must learn how to tell convincing stories that inspire people and influence change.
And the skill that is above them all and key to staying relevant and thriving in the future talent marketplace is a constantly iterative mindset that can valiantly keep up with the pace of change. The courage to say you don’t know and the willingness to continually learn something new will be the critical differentiators for the future of you and your organization.
Investing in Success
To keep up with the accelerated pace of innovation at scale, though, organizations will need to step up their efforts to upskill their workforce in skills of the future. Businesses must promote more than just a culture of continuous learning. Giving workers the tools they need to adapt to and welcome change is vital.
It also isn’t enough to help employees merely accumulate knowledge. They must also be able to apply it effectively as they learn. This is how the human brain works best — when it learns by doing! For instance, while reading an article about public speaking may provide easy-to-remember tips and tricks, only putting those learnings into action would make someone better.
As organizations future-proof their workforce with evolving skills, executing this goal quickly and at scale is essential. A seamless virtual learning framework that helps employees learn in the flow of work can help you achieve your vision more efficiently. Creating specialized learning paths and exciting opportunities, such as employee hackathons, can be helpful in encouraging people to upskill. And once your workforce knows of the best generative AI use cases, put AI to work so your people can use it to solve actual client problems — and use their minds for the magic that only human ingenuity and creativity can catalyze.
Taking Action
The data is clear. Studies show a clear correlation between learning and employee engagement — a key driver of talent attraction and retention. To make it simple: Helping people reach their full potential makes them feel valued and supported. It also makes them more engaged in the work that they do. And an engaged workforce can make wonderful things happen for any organization’s collective purpose and vision for its future.
Companies that actively build learning paths for their employees not only create a culture of continuous innovation but also become magnets for top talent. As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, job seekers prioritize opportunities for growth and development when choosing employers. Offering robust learning paths and development programs supporting individual career aspirations can not only attract high-potential candidates but also retain valuable employees. The possibilities are boundless, and the rewards are immeasurable.
Think of a future where learning is the foundation of success. Imagine a world where individuals thrive, organizations flourish and the future is embraced with open arms. This perfect vision doesn’t need to remain in your dreams — it’s ready for the taking! All we need to do is embrace the transformative power of learning — for ourselves and for our organizations — and watch as a brighter future unfolds before your eyes.
