Don’t let robots take your job: 3 simple steps to make yourself irreplaceable as an employee.

Outsourcing specialist work has becoming increasingly common for small to medium-sized businesses. It is particularly useful for businesses that don't have the cashflow to be able to sustain full-time, in-house employees or don’t have the specialist resources required.

While there are many benefits to outsourcing, such as reducing overhead costs and increasing flexibility or scalability, there is a downside – it can make employees worried or concerned about their job security.

Traditionally, businesses outsourced work to human specialists. However, with the recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), it is now possible to automate manual task and data entry, effectively outsourcing work to computers.

So, what is an in-house employee to do? It’s time to make yourself irreplaceable. While some of your tasks or duties may be outsourced or automated, making sure you continue to add value beyond your base job will increase your job security.

So, here’s 3 simple steps to make yourself irreplaceable as an employee:

1. Become a general strategist

Find a way to help grow the business in a high-level way. While specialist work can be outsourced and repetitive tasks can be automated, businesses will always need general strategists who can help grow the business; employees who can affect more outcomes. Whether that’s developing systems and processes or creating strategies to enable the business to produce more for clients, deliver a better service, or potentially take on more clients without increasing resources.

2. Upskill to add more value

Ask yourself what are those other skills I could be learning that would add more value to this business? Once you have identified skills that would increase the value you bring in your role, ask your manager whether your employer is open to funding or partially funding your professional development. If not, there are plenty of platforms out there such as SkillShare and LinkedIn Learning that offer opportunities and content to upskill.

3. Identify your complimentary skills that will increase the value of AI & Machines

While AI and machines have come a long way in the last 5-10 years, it's important to remember that they still require humans to learn from.

?At this stage, robots and automation are augmenting human skills they aren’t replacing us. Machines emulate human skills to free up our capacity, but they still require a human in the loop. They still require our common sense, empathy, intuition and creativity.

Instead of viewing machines as a threat, consider how you can help your employer better use the technology that is available. Can you help design a better algorithm or machine? Can you help train them? Could you or your employer then offer this as a product/service to your competitors?

Don’t ignore the writing on the wall

Digital technology is the future. We are only just beginning to see the impact that technology will have on our workplaces. Don’t stick your head in the sand and hope that your job or role as you know it today will always be needed. Start putting in the groundwork and upskill yourself today so that when the time comes and your employer decides to outsource or automate parts of your job, you’ll still be adding value.

Final note - Stop fearing change

Life is all about change. How we work is always going to be evolving. The key to success is in embracing the change and adapting. Don’t let fear hold you back from changing with the times. Don’t sit there and do nothing, start making yourself irreplaceable today.

How do you think employees can capitalise on the opportunities that AI and machines bring? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below or drop me a DM if you’d prefer.

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