Not sure if you've noticed (and we're guessing you have), but artificial intelligence is everywhere in our daily lives, and it's just getting started. This relentless march spells disruption, major disruption, throughout a wide-range of industries. The question of AI in the Workplace and what we, as humans, can do to ensure we stay relevant are being asked in classrooms, lunch rooms and board rooms around the world.
One answer, according to a number of observers, is embracing the skills of improv.
In a recent article by Carmine Gallo posted on Forbes' website, he wrote about insights offered by Dr. Kai-Fu Lee in his new book, AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order
The consensus from Dr. Lee, one of the world's leading experts in the AI space, was that, while a significant shift in the workplace is coming, individuals who've focused on the soft skills, including collaboration, communication, being an empathetic leader, creative problem-solving, team building skills, etc. will not only find a place, but will thrive.
(Looking for Team Building in Dallas - check out our programs)
Dr. Lee says, "the jobs of the future will require creative, compassionate, and empathetic leaders who know how to create trust, build teams, inspire service, and communicate effectively."
Virtually all of the corporate training sessions we design for our clients have the themes of collaboration, empathy, being a supportive teammate, empathy and creativity as a core focus.
Our improv-based corporate workshops, including Team Building, are popular with clients as a unique way to build those soft skills that are critical to how an organization runs. The focus on creating an empathetic environment in which each team member supports each other, where ideas are accepted and built upon, where colleagues inspire each other.
As Dr. Lee notes, a computer "has no capacity to feel love, excitement, compassion, or to dream of doing something other than what it was programmed to do. It has no imagination. It cannot motivate, inspire, or instill a desire to serve others. It is in this uniquely human potential for growth, compassion, and love where I see hope."
The future really isn't all that scary. AI's limitations (Dr. Lee states that we're “nowhere near” living in a world where machines have any emotion), combined with doubling down on those soft "human skills", guarantees a smooth ride during the evolving workplace landscape.
Gallo's article - A Global AI Expert Identifies the Skills you need to Thrive in the next 15 Years is a great read.
Contact us if you're interested in learning more about our improv-based corporate training workshops (including customized Team Building in Dallas, Communication and Presentation Skills, learning how to confidently deliver your message and think on your feet).
(Alex at Alex@improvtoimprove.org, or Kayce at Kayce@improvtoimprove.org)