Future-Proof Yourself for the Post-Pandemic World of Work
Most of us know people whose jobs, livelihoods or career prospects have been wiped out by the onset of COVID. Some sectors of the economy, including hospitality and travel, will take years to recover. Others, such as traditional high street retail, may struggle to survive as technology-enabled trends already at work before the global pandemic have given the definitive coup de grace to fatally out-dated business models. Even those lucky enough to have apparently pandemic-proof jobs are rightly anxious about their future prospects. Advances in areas such as automation, artificial intelligence and cloud computing are leading inexorably towards a point where many white-collar jobs will soon disappear. No wonder most of us are feeling stressed and anxious. How can we formulate a detailed plan for an unknowable future? The answer is: we can’t. All we can do is to equip ourselves with the requisite skills to make ourselves as future-proof as possible. All we can do is prepare to repot.
Although the jobs of today and yesteryear may be disappearing, recent research suggests that 85% of jobs expected to be available in 2030 don’t yet even exist. Just as our grandparents would have been hard pressed to understand the work of someone involved in computer science, data analytics or precision medicine, so we have difficulty imagining what the jobs of the future might entail. But whatever the still undefined requirements of the new “must-have” skill set, an even more important attribute will be the willingness to learn how to learn that accompanies a curious and open mindset.
When it comes to learning, the barrier that often holds us back is a natural tendency to focus on what we already know. Most of our working lives are spent in performance mode, busily demonstrating our knowledge and leveraging our areas of expertise. Less frequently do we put ourselves in learning mode by asking “What do I need to learn to improve myself and deliver what the job or the business needs?” To combat this tendency to stay stuck in our expert ruts, we need to learn to learn. Learning is a muscle that can be built, flexed, and strengthened—helping us learn faster, adapt to change better and faster, and build our resilience. No matter how experienced you may be, it will increasingly be the adaptability and resilience derived from continuous learning that will propel you towards success.
So how can organisations and individuals accelerate learning and prepare for the future? These three actions may help:
Learn to embrace experimentation, risk, and surprise. Most learning occurs on the job from testing assumptions and new ideas. But to make that learning possible, companies need to create a non-judgmental space for people to learn from failures and successes—both their own and those of others. As an individual, it takes humility to start off again at the bottom of a new learning curve. But without taking the risks to learn and to grow, you’re bound to become stuck and irrelevant.
Ensure you stay connected and engaged. Most forward-looking organisations understand that creating open-knowledge systems across the operation can engage employees, helping them share and access learning and find ways to innovate. Equally important are the human connections that constitute our network. Our community of close and loose connections also enables us to learn from others and supports us in our efforts to reskill and repot.
Keep an open mind and embrace your curiosity. Learning is a creative discipline that requires a blend of on-the-job practice, formal training and space for curiosity. It is curiosity that fuels the desire to learn and inspires us to try something new, including reskilling and repotting. So ask questions, never jump to conclusions and realise that every situation and every individual has something valuable that they can teach you.
Are you ready for what’s next?
A fresh approach to navigating change and finding your purpose.
About Frances
Frances is a best-selling author, broadcaster and an acknowledged expert in the business of cross-cultural communication.