How can you leverage automation to enhance your job rather than replace it?

By automating repetitive tasks, I can focus on higher-level responsibilities like system design, optimization, and complex troubleshooting. Automation improves efficiency, enabling me to accomplish more value-added work. Analyzing automated system data provides insights for process improvements and data-driven decisions. As automation advances, upskilling in areas like data analytics and machine learning keeps me relevant. With routines automated, I can dedicate time to project management, cross-functional coordination, seamless system integration, and proactive safety/compliance measures leveraging automated monitoring and control.

Personally, I try to add as many practical skills to my portfolio as possible, something that has been very successful for me is to be the generalist in an industry where everyone tells you to be a specialist. I would always be told to "Invest in defining my 'T'." Then I would see colleages who hyper-specialised losing their positions as the tool/technology fell out of favour. In a world where the answer to almost any problem is a web-search away, being able to adapt to shifts in tool use & the tech hype-cycle seems to be far more valuable than always having the answer in any particular field.

Something I like to do is listen for expressions of frustration. In meetings or just on the office floor, learn to listen for people sighing when some task comes up, or those moments where most people leave a particular recurring task for the last minute every time it comes up. That's where you have an opportunity to alleviate negative experiences at work for both yourself & your peers. After you get into the habit, an exasperated comment like "ahh, but I've got to grab the <blank> numbers & send them to <group>, so I might not be able to help out on that." Becomes a way to cut down on those processes that everyone dislikes.

Start with just automating the things you don't like doing. It doesn't matter with what tool or language. Just use whatever you're allowed to use & what works for you. Then you don't have to deal with that thing. Once you've got it working consistently, offer to share it with those that also do the same tasks, if they also express relief at no longer having to do that task, then you have your PoC to present to your leadership. It works, people are happy, the process gets done quicker & you took the initiative to make that happen. Become the one that people go to for having those tasks sorted.

Mostly key areas are already being touched. I would not see automation as a threat. I would see how I can turn it in my favor to free up my work to move into the space where human intelligence is still inevitable.