What does this mean for you as an employee or a contractor?
The first question you need to ask yourself is that- are you doing a job which can be done by a machine? This may sound callous and cruel, but we are at that point in technology evolution where such candid self-talk is very essential and will determine the ones who are well-prepared and ready to tackle work environment changes from the ones who are not and find themselves swept away by AI tsunami!
Let’s say you are doing a job which can be potentially replaced by artificial intelligence. Then you need to start considering other career development options. I do understand that it is not as simple as that for most people. Folks who are already stretched thin on their time between working two jobs and tending to family may not have the necessary resource of time and/or money to consider career advancing courses. But hang on a second! You are putting your cart before the horse.
The first thing you need is a strategic career plan- a Personal Career Roadmap. Next, you can put in actionable steps. It is at this point where you can consider and incorporate the ‘reality’ of your situation.
Ask these three questions to yourself to start chalking out your strategic personal roadmap:
- Are you easily replaceable? Can your work be done by someone else? Can it potentially be done by a programmed machine?
- Do you like what you do or is your job a means to pay for your needs and lifestyle?
- What other skills do you have that are probably hobbies at the present time which you never thought of monetizing? E.g. you could be a great chef, an avid writer or a hidden fashionista who is always admired for the way you put your work wardrobe together.
Once you take the time and sit through and answer these questions, you will realize that when you deeply analyze and evaluate yourself and your current job situation, there is much untapped potential- these are your core competencies, and these are also specific to you. These could be in your current field of expertise or it could be in a completely new area. But one thing is for sure that this will be an area where you have passion and strong intent, which will not be replaceable.
The thought of working at your chosen career options will not only inspire and motivate you but also help you to chalk out a better career path for yourself. Seeing tangible results will help to further motivate you and enhance your self-esteem. This is just the first step of “knowing yourself”- the key questions of ‘What & Why’.
Next comes the how-s? We will look at how to address the process of formally chalking out your passion-path in another post. Do let me know your thoughts and comments below...
Sandhya is a Continuous Improvement & Technology Transformation Expert, a Thought Leader and a Visionary Entrepreneur. Follow her work on this blog and on Linked In and other social media channels to keep up-to-date on emerging technology- how it impacts our lives and what we can do to ensure maximum benefit with minimal adverse impact along with host of other helpful ideas and tips on Continuous Improvement, Project Management and Business/Client Relationship Management.
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