Embracing Change: How the Modern Worker Can Stay Ahead of the Curve

Last year, I attended an OpenAI -hosted event in Lagos where Sam Altman, OpenAI ’s Founder and CEO, met and spoke to the Lagos tech community to address some vital questions regarding the deployment, application, and disruptive capacity of artificial intelligence. I recall asking Sam what AI would mean for human connectedness and our ability to build better digital communities: his response was promising albeit chilling as he commented on the likelihood of identity theft and associated risks attaining a whole new level with AI.

Central to the conversations that day was the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence, especially its sweeping impact on the job market. Sam reassured attendees that instead of seeing AI as a replacement for human labour, it should be considered an enabler of a faster and more productive workforce. While that sounded encouraging, concerns that AI would lead to the loss of millions of jobs have still not dissipated.

Indeed, the International Monetary Fund reveals that AI will affect up to 40% of jobs around the world. The World Economic Forum predicts AI will replace 85 million jobs globally by 2025 while a report by the 麦肯锡 concludes that AI could potentially disrupt between 400 and 800 million jobs of all skill levels globally by 2030. Automation and AI are reshaping the nature of work in an unprecedented fashion.

The inevitability of this reality is putting a lot of pressure on workers today, heightening job insecurity and triggering a nervous rush by organisations and workers to understand and adjust to this rapidly evolving world of work. But we’ve been here before. Every technology-enabled industrial revolution came with such widespread shifts in the way people live and work.

During the Third Industrial Revolution (also known as the Digital Revolution), which began in the late 20th century and continues into the present day, many traditional manufacturing jobs were automated, leading to job losses in industries such as automotive manufacturing, textiles, and electronics assembly. However, the scale is bigger and the stakes are higher in the Fourth Industrial Revolution enabled by AI and Automation.

The good news is workers in this era are empowered with a choice: swim with the tide or sink in the tide. Adapt and thrive or remain inflexible and risk losing out in the marketplace. My recommendation always is for the modern worker to learn how to embrace change, leveraging it to attain higher levels of competence and fulfilment. Here are five ways the modern worker can remain relevant regardless of the changing times:

1.???? Develop a growth mindset: Workers with a growth mindset believe that their abilities can be developed through hard work and dedication. This mindset allows them to approach challenges with optimism and resilience. With a growth mindset, you can quickly adjust to the times by learning new skills and building capacities in areas that will make you continuously relevant.

2.???? Practice Continuous Learning: This point reminds me of the film Hidden Figures – based on the true story of three black women in a white, male-dominated NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the early years of the space race. All the odds were stacked against them as they were black, women, and less skilled. They saw an opportunity with the emergence of the computer and spent endless hours learning how to use it. With that rare computer skill, they became indispensable and used their relevance to fight for equality and leave a lasting legacy. Complacency is the enemy of progress. The days of learning a skill and using it for the rest of your career are over. Invest in courses, workshops, and other learning resources that will help you stay ahead of the curve.

3.???? Be Open to Failure: Failure is an inevitable part of the learning process. Workers who are willing to take risks and embrace failure as a learning opportunity are more likely to adapt and thrive in a changing environment.

4.???? Be Nimble and Adaptable: The ability to adjust plans and strategies, innovate, and embrace change is not just a desirable trait; it's essential for thriving in the modern workplace. According to a recent study by the World Economic Forum, adaptability ranks among the top skills required for success in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. As the pace of technological advancement accelerates, you must cultivate a mindset of continuous learning and adaptation to stay relevant in your career.

5.???? Become a Problem Solver: View challenges as opportunities to use your creativity and resourcefulness to find solutions. Identify gaps in your organisation that can be optimised with technology and be the one to take the initiative. Resourcefulness can never be automated away. Be the go-to person for creative problem-solving. If you don’t have the capacity yet, develop it.

The world is changing at an unprecedented pace. Technological advancements, globalisation, and economic shifts are constantly reshaping the landscape of work. As a modern worker, you stand at the crossroads of innovation and tradition, where adaptability isn't just a skill – it's a survival strategy. It's no longer enough to simply be good at your job; you must also be adaptable, resilient, and possess a growth mindset. The future belongs to those who can embrace change, not resist it. As Heraclitus so aptly put it, "No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man." See you at the top!

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