6 Human Network Predictions

1.?The Rise of Human Connections

The rise of humans in the age of advancing AI and generative technologies will be marked by a celebration of unique human qualities, emphasizing emotional intelligence, authenticity, and our essential human connections and capabilities.

Deloitte’s Chief Futurist, Mike Bechtel advocates for us to Celebrate Humans, Not AI . He suggests that technologists should focus on a positive vision where the confluence of data and AI improves lives, education, health, and productivity with privacy and consent. In her article Why AI can never replace human, connections , Manar Al Hinai suggests that AI lacks the emotional intelligence, authenticity, and personal touch that define genuine human interactions. She emphasizes the importance of leveraging AI as a tool to enhance productivity and creativity but also encourages teams to personalize communication with handwritten notes, and engage in face-to-face meetings, as these elements contribute to the unique and irreplaceable qualities of human connection.

?Technologists need to assert a positive vision for humanity.

Finally, Business strategist Erica Keswin emphasizes the integration of humanity into the workplace , not despite generative AI but because of it. She argues for a greater need of soft skills—referred to as "power skills", as becoming even more crucial for leaders. Despite technological dominance in discussions, these skills, centered on vulnerability and empathy, are gaining prominence. With generative AI redefining work, there is an opportunity for leaders to prioritize and enhance human skills. Or as Dave Duggal states, technologists need to assert a positive vision for humanity.

2. Social Capital as a Leadership Competency

The effectiveness of leadership depends significantly on a leaders' ability to utilize social capital, emphasized by a growing organizational emphasis on their skill in leveraging diverse networks, fostering collaboration, and nurturing positive relationships.

Russell Reynolds leaders Simon Kingston , Emily Meneer and Guillaume Morisset argue for the Rise of the Networked Generalist . They suggest organizations need to seek leaders with diverse personal and professional backgrounds and extensive cross-sector connectivity, providing expertise that goes beyond a single industry. While specialized expertise remains crucial, companies are advised to elevate networked generalists to help in breaking down silos, unlocking organizational bottlenecks, and fostering collaboration across boundaries.

As the world becomes more automated and technology-driven, the importance of cultivating relationships has only increased.

According to Zenger Folkman, two of the most important traits for Understanding Good Leadership in 2024 are collaboration and teamwork, along with building positive relationships. Successful leaders foster collective efforts and teamwork. They forge connections that serve as the foundation for organizational cohesion and are crucial for excelling in a range of key skills, ultimately playing a pivotal role in achieving overall organizational success. In his excellent article, The Future of Work is Human , Jayson Krause emphasizes the growing importance of fostering relationships in a technology-driven world. He contends that building strong connections, enhancing emotional intelligence, and honing collaboration skills are crucial for thriving in the dynamic landscape of technology, enabling individuals to seize opportunities and contribute to a better future.

3. Increase in AI-Powered Collaboration Tools

AI-Powered Collaboration Tools are poised to revolutionize teamwork by automating routine tasks, organizing data, and enabling seamless communication, ultimately optimizing workflows, minimizing digital clutter, and fostering enhanced efficiency in remote work environments.

In his article, Streamlining Everyday Life , Richard K . from Microsoft highlights how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing mundane tasks. From virtual assistants simplifying commands to smart home devices streamlining household management, and AI automating repetitive work. He highlights how AI enhances efficiency in areas like personalized recommendations and time management tools. Dave Balroop reinforces this in his post, AI and Remote Work: Enhancing Productivity and Collaboration .?He highlights that AI-powered virtual platforms streamline communication and project management, while enhanced video conferencing offers real-time translation and automated meeting summaries. Collaboration assistants utilize AI to schedule meetings and provide context-specific information, enhancing efficiency in remote work.

It’s time to declutter, refocus, and revolutionize the way you work

In her incredible report the State of Collaboration Technology , Rebecca Hinds from the Asana Work Innovation Lab provides a rich set of research-backed insights. In collaboration with AWS and researchers Bob Sutton (Stanford) and Paul Leonardi (UCSB), the report offers research-backed strategies to streamline technology tools and boost productivity. Key insights include the importance of limiting the tech stack to an optimal number for efficiency, leveraging AI to simplify workflows, reducing redundancy, and fostering better collaboration by reducing digital clutter.

4. More Intentional Hybrid Work Strategies

With the rise of remote and virtual work, organizational network analysis (ONA) will expand its application to hybrid work. Researchers will explore the impact of virtual networks on communication, collaboration, and performance, and develop interventions to optimize remote network structures.

Erica Keswin summarizes this from an Inc. Magazine article highlighting that in-person days should be centered around interaction, collaboration, relationship building, mentoring, and professional development. While remote days should be reserved for deep focus, research, writing, “heads down” work. The Inc. Magazine piece from Ali Donaldson highlights that the U.S. has seen a rise in remote work adoption, with 62 percent of companies allowing it to some extent, up from 51 percent earlier in the year. Companies are shifting towards a hybrid work model, emphasizing the importance of in-person work for social interaction and collaboration, while also urging a thoughtful approach to scheduling and reducing virtual meeting overload to enhance productivity and employee satisfaction.

This is consistent with our research from the Connected Commons that emphasizes the significance of intentional design and collaboration for in-person teams. The emergence of discovery often unfolds as individuals engage across various teams, sharing new insights or ideas. Bringing people back into the office without more intentionality, isn’t enough to elevate these types of interactions. It is also supported by the research from Philip Arkcoll and the Worklytics team who found that bringing employees back to the office tends to increase disruption and lower focus on those days . The result is employees often report lower productivity on anchor days.

In the age of AI, soft skills are the hidden gems of the workplace

Finally, Rebecca Knight highlights in her HBR article How to Improve Your Soft Skills as a Remote Worker the challenges of developing soft skills like empathy, creativity, and problem-solving while working remotely. She emphasizes the importance of intentional interaction with colleagues through technologies like Zoom, offering suggestions such as conducting a soft skills audit, establishing shared values, and making colleagues feel seen and heard.

5. Social Robots from Copilots to Companions

As social robots advancements are poised to address societal challenges in healthcare, offering assistance to the elderly and supporting mental health interventions for children, marking a transformative shift in human-robot dynamics. They will also evolve from task-oriented machines to human companions.

Connie Guglielmo’s breakthrough article AI Chatbots Are Here to Stay highlights that chatbots becoming more relatable as designers are giving them personalities and role characteristics to create human-like perception. Researchers at the Norman Nielsen Group have identified four degrees of AI anthropomorphism : courtesy, reinforcement, roleplay, and companionship. We may already be progressing towards companionship as users are increasingly treating chatbots like humans, engaging politely, giving positive feedback, and seeking emotional connections.

While robots can offer companionship, especially to those who are isolated, it's crucial to strike a balance, ensuring that human connections remain at the forefront of our social lives.?

David Cain writes a thought-provoking and comprehensive guide to understanding the multifaceted nature of social robots , inviting readers to contemplate the intricate dance between humans and machines in our evolving technological landscape. Social robots are evolving from task-oriented machines into human companions, addressing challenges in sectors like healthcare by providing assistance to the elderly and supporting mental health interventions for children. As they navigate complex social interactions, these robots not only solve practical problems but also cater to the human need for companionship.

6. ONA Enabled HR Tools

The increasing utilization of Organizational Network Analysis (ONA) will emerge as a pivotal enabler for new HR tools, revolutionizing talent development, performance management, and cultural transformation by automating insights, addressing skills gaps, and ensuring responsible use of technology.

The SHRM article Is ONA a Better Way to Manage Performance? highlights the application of network analysis in measuring employee performance compared to traditional methods. ONA captures communication and survey data, providing a data-driven approach to understanding relationships within an organization. Confirm CEO, Josh Merrill discusses ONA's role in improving performance management by offering leaders visibility into the true impact of mployees and avoiding biases present in outdated performance measurement models.

Francisco Marin and the Cognitive Talent Solutions team wrote an article delves into the integration of generative AI within ONA for the purpose of leadership development. Using ONA allows for personalized leadership development, addressing skills gaps, designing customized training programs, improving collaboration, and predicting future leaders based on network trends and individual performance.

Jeppe Vilstrup Hansgaard from Innovisor shares how ONA can be leveraged to help an organization's well-being by demonstrating that 18% of individuals in a case study were isolated, signifying a concerning level of loneliness within the workplace. In his dynamic conversation with Cole Napper and Scott Hines on the Directionally Correct podcast, Hemerson Paes highlights how network analysis can help in providing insights into network positions and contributions to enable individuals to see a world full of possibilities in future career paths. Finally, in his video on ONA, Andras Vicsek shares how ONA serves as a guiding light in navigating change management by fostering collaboration, promoting inclusion, and maintaining culture change.

These six predictions are of significant importance for the future, placing a spotlight on the enduring value of human qualities within evolving networks amidst AI advancements. They outline essential strategies and tools that not only reinforce effective leadership and streamlined collaboration but also ensure the harmonious integration of technology within human networks, emphasizing the pivotal role these predictions play in shaping the future dynamics of interconnected human relationships.

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