More Human Than Human

I had a crisis of confidence these past few weeks. It was a form of reverse imposter syndrome. I saw ChatGPT start producing original text based on commands and conditions, using natural language to comply fairly well with requests requiring even intermediate knowledge. I heard of examples where requests produced a combination of text and working computer code.?

I was pretty freaked out. I saw myself, once this tech hits its stride, as metaphorically trying to outrun an F1 car.These past few weeks, I’ve been ruminating, obsessively trying to predict my future and to gauge what role I can play in helping people in their careers in this new world.

It had done little good.

However, two things did help. Two moments helped me to get in better touch with what it is I really do.

First, I was reminded that nearly every business is, at some level, a product of relationships - a people business. Especially mine. I am in the knowledge business, yes. However, I am in the encouragement business, the accountability business, the interpersonal fit business, the empathy business…and more. I am in a people business even more than I am in a jobs business.

Sports is an area where analytics have had a lot of buzz and influence. However, I was clicking through my YouTube channel and saw an interview I did last year with strength and conditioning coach extraordinaire Mike Boyle (bodybyboyle.com, Twitter: @mboyle1959). (Full interview here: https://youtu.be/MDJsbJ0h5OI) One of the questions I asked him was about how analytics-oriented folks and hands-on practitioners might better work together. His answer, watching it again, was enlightening: Sports is a people business. The right folks have to do the right things. The 2013 Red Sox won the World Series in no small part because they had an incredible mix of hard-working, high-character players who created an atmosphere where excellence wasn’t just a grind. It was infectious. It was human. Businesses that succeed benefit strongly from employees with exceptionally good soft skills.

Look, ChatGPT will handle a lot of initial e-mail introductions, scheduling and drafts. However, it’s not (yet) capable of being there emotionally when people hit life’s challenges. It’s not yet capable of making a workplace a pleasant, safe place for people to work together. It’s not going to ask you the hard questions back with emotional force or connection the way a person you trust can. It’s not a friend. It’s not a co-worker. It’s not the same.

Next, I learned that change is certain, but our response to it is the key. As a result, we’ll have to all keep both flipping the script and talking to people in completely different fields to get insights that we will miss. I spoke today with a good friend who works in sales, and presented my dilemma to him. His response was brilliant: flip the script. He suggested that I take my strong knowledge of the candidate market, and also bring it to help companies hire the right people. I can serve multiple markets because I really serve people first.

He didn’t tell me to lose hope and prepare a bunker for the apocalypse, nor did he tell me to keep riding the same wave he same way. He helped me, in an hour, to see opportunities that I am well-suited for, but had not fully considered. I was too close to see. Again, growth and change require us to be in the people business and find ways to serve people better in deeper ways.

A decent portion of my future work (and writing) will be dedicated to helping businesses identify opportunities and anticipate and address challenges in searching for talented people. I will serve individual clients as well. That said, I am more committed to serving people and helping them find the right FIT than ever before.

If you are in a helping profession, or have a remarkable mechanical skill, bless your good fortune. Everyone should master their craft. Still, for everyone, I recommend this: shift your perspective to serving people in a way that you are good at and enjoy. If there are obstacles in your relationships, or your soft skills are underdeveloped, please take active steps to work these muscles and improve your ability to relate, lead and serve as best as you can. It’s good business.

As it is written in a pretty good book, be not afraid. Maximize your personal routine, your relationships and your health. Choose to keep learning new things your entire life. Choose to see the opportunities presented by the computing power as both a reason and leverage to be more human, not less. Be more of what you are.

Michael Kane is a career coach who majored in philosophy and political science and earned a graduate degree in history. He will never be confused for an ace programmer. What he can do is help you find the right fit, either for your next job or your company’s open position. Contact him at [email protected]