As many of the technical parts of our work get automated, many of us fear being completely replaced by AI. I know I do. But AI will never be able to unicycle like me! Oh wait… It already can? I stand corrected.

While a certain type of role and job is at risk, in a broader sense we must all work hard towards being irreplaceable.

Easier said than done, believe me, I know.

But rather than wax theoretic on this, I’ll use a concrete example:

A successful CEO friend of mine told me that her world is changing faster than she ever expected thanks to technology (no surprises there). Processes that made sense in her business even six months ago are no longer relevant today. According to her, there are two types of employees who are (not) reacting to this change.

Type 1:

These are people who are so used to the way things have always been done that they categorically refuse to see a better way. They resist change in all its forms.

Type 2:

These are the people who blindly accept technological outputs without exercising critical thinking. “ChatGPT said it, so it must be true.”

Neither is ideal. So what is this CEO looking for today?

Easy:

1. Adaptability

2. Plasticity

3. Critical thinking.

Critical thinking is apparently an increasingly rare skill in organizations of all sizes. As a business owner myself, it’s certainly the number one skill I value in people I work with.

The takeaway: Never do anything just because it’s always been done that way, or worse, just because AI said so.

We will all be paid for our judgment and ability to adapt. We will be paid for our ability to think on our feet as situations change.