Remember when “keeping up with technology” just meant learning a new software program? Today, it also means learning how to remain valuable in a workplace being drastically reshaped by artificial intelligence that can automate most of the tasks we were hired to do.
As AI continues to transform industries and redefine roles, a crucial question emerges — which human capabilities will matter most in this new landscape? To find answers, we consulted six of our expert speakers who have dedicated their careers to understanding and amplifying human potential in evolving environments.
They identified six uniquely human skills that will become increasingly valuable as AI advances — critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, emotional intelligence, communication, and ethical literacy — and explored how to enhance and strengthen these skills within yourself and others. These six skills aren’t just professional assets — they’re the foundation for success in an AI-powered future.
Six Essential Human Skills to Thrive in the Age of AI
Critical Thinking: Learn to Navigate the Grey
In an increasingly AI-driven world and workplace, strong and reliable critical thinking skills are essential. Tim Arnold is a leadership development and teambuilding expert, who, for over two decades, has helped leaders manage complexity
The term “critical”, he says, originates from the Greek word kritikos, meaning the ability to judge or discern. While AI excels at processing data it struggles with nuance and navigating complex, grey areas — skills at the foundation of critical thinking and that are, so far, uniquely human. Effective critical thinkers can navigate complex decisions in ways that ensure technology enhances, rather than replaces, human judgment.
To develop critical thinking, Tim recommends moving beyond binary, either/or thinking where everything is right or wrong. Instead, embrace “and” thinking, which recognizes that many challenges have multiple right answers. Situations like work vs. home, change vs. stability, or profit vs. purpose are examples of where you don’t want to pick just one side, there is critical value to both. This approach involves actively seeking diverse perspectives, questioning assumptions, recognizing biases (personal and organizational), and fostering environments where healthy tension is encouraged.
Creativity: The Key to Unlocking AI’s Potential
As AI increasingly handles routine tasks and data processing, human creativity becomes our competitive advantage, says David Usher, a Juno Award-winning musician and founder of the AI creative studio, Reimagine AI.
Creativity extends far beyond the arts, David added, it’s vital in everything we do — it’s how we negotiate, develop products, run businesses, etc. It’s innate to being human, and its value is only going to increase as AI systems become more efficient and autonomous, particularly agentic AI.
It’s likely that agentic AI will take over 50-75% of most jobs, David said. It’ll be a mass disruption to the way we work and live. This is where creativity comes in. Humans still excel at synthesizing ideas in ways machines cannot — we still need humans to put ideas together in new ways. So, in the short term, those who understand and leverage these AI systems in conjunction with human creativity will have a significant advantage.
To strengthen your creativity, begin by rekindling curiosity and wonder, David said. So much of our childhood was spent learning, as adults we need to reengage with the learning process. Embark on something new — learning and curiosity is the first step to tapping into your creativity. Secondly, dedicate specific time in your day to focus on the creative process. It’s like learning a new language, you have to continuously engage that mental muscle to improve it.
Adaptability: Surviving in a Changing Landscape
“Survival of the fittest” doesn’t mean fastest or strongest, it means the best “fit” within an ever-changing world, Dr. Shimi Kang said. This is adaptability. It’s the ability to change, pivot, learn, and ultimately “fit” into the world around us.
Shimi is an award-winning medical doctor, researcher, and expert on the neuroscience behind innovation, leadership, and motivation. She believes enhancing our natural ability to adapt is more important now than ever as the modern-day worker, and organizations in general, are consistently facing environmental pressures, largely driven by technological advances. This requires employees to be adaptive in ideas, values, and behaviours, she said.
It’s important to note the difference between adaptability and agility with adaptability being our ability to change and agility being our ability to work within a changing space. They work in tandem making the other easier and enhancing our performance. As AI continues to advance across industries, we need “both adaptability as a mindset and agility in our behaviour,” Shimi said.
The three prescriptions, Shimi shares to help people enhance their adaptability and mental agility are:
- Downtime or self-care: We cannot learn, adapt, or create when we’re unhealthy, stressed, or burnt out. Self regulation and self-care are the key to a high-performing brain.
- Connection: Shimi specifically emphasized the need to connect with those who are different from you. When we are exposed to diverse perspectives, she said, we exchange knowledge and that’s how we adapt.
- Play: This means trying new things, iterating and making adjustments along the way. Play is the scientific method required for adaptability and creativity.
Emotional Intelligence: The Human Edge
In an AI-powered future, the most human skills will be the most valuable — and emotional intelligence (EQ) leads the way, says Jamelle Lindo, a leadership and EQ expert.
EQ is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions as well as those of others — a distinctly human capability that AI cannot replicate. As AI integrates into more workplaces, EQ becomes increasingly vital since machines lack empathy and self-awareness, creating opportunities for emotionally intelligent individuals to thrive.
While AI absorbs repetitive tasks, human aspects like empathy and communication become more central, especially as workplace evolution increases emotional stress, leading to burnout and reduced performance. Organizations need emotionally intelligent people who can manage pressure, adapt quickly, and collaborate efficiently.
Jamelle shared three strategies to help people enhance their EQ:
- Start with yourself: Resist the urge to focus on how others need to change, and commit to becoming a better version of yourself, first.
- Grow your self-awareness: Use assessments or seek feedback to better understand your emotional patterns and skills — this is the foundation of all EQ development.
- Focus on action, not just knowledge: Learning about EQ isn’t enough. Apply EQ strategies in real-life situations to build habits and experience meaningful growth.
Strategic Communication: The Power of Human Connection
In this new world of AI, relating to and connecting with each other on a human level will become even more essential, said Jennifer Barroll, a corporate leadership and communicational consultant.
When we define effective communication, many think of it as the ability to create understanding and clarify actions, she continued, all of which AI can do better. So, effective communicators in this new landscape will be those who bring humanity to the forefront, those who stay conscious, connected, and engaged with the people around them.
The impact of human connection is something AI cannot replicate. It’s the power of:
- Authenticity: Our unique human lens provides a viewpoint invaluable to how ideas are shared and understood.
- Creativity: The push and pull of creative collaboration is essential to strategic decision-making.
- Empathy: Shared human vulnerability cannot be replicated by AI.
To sharpen our communication skills, Jennifer recommends focusing on listening more than speaking. Make it a point to learn, observe, and gather as much information as you can, she said. When we genuinely listen, we make others feel valued, safe, and connected.
Secondly, pay close attention to both verbal and non-verbal cues. With only 7% of communication being verbal (according to research, tone accounts for 38% and body language 55%), it’s important to notice what people say, even when they’re not speaking. If we could all be more conscious and curious listeners, Jennifer added, this world would be a better place.
Ethical Literacy: Navigating the Moral Dimensions of AI
As AI transforms our world — driving efficiency at the potential cost of millions of jobs — the need to balance ethical leadership and rational decision-making becomes critical for societal cohesion, says Dwayne Matthews, a future of work and education strategist.
In an AI-enhanced world, ethical literacy isn’t optional — it’s essential. We must develop the capacity to identify ethical dilemmas, apply both traditional and emerging ethical frameworks, and reconcile our personal values with collective needs, Dwayne continued. This capacity is not just “a nice to have” — it’s a core competency that builds trust and ensures responsible innovation as well as long-term viability.
Developing ethical literacy is an ongoing practice, Dwayne said. He recommends all leaders read The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman, the CEO of Microsoft AI. From this book, Dwayne shared an ethical literacy practice:
- Continuous learning: Pursue formal and informal education as well as engaging in interdisciplinary workshops.
- Ethical audits: Regularly assess AI systems through scenario analyses, strategic forecasting, and stakeholder feedback.
- Engage multidisciplinary teams: Collaborate with ethicists, technologists, and legal experts.
- Guidelines and transparency: Develop tailored ethical checklists to ensure transparent decision-making.
- Regulatory engagement: Align with global standards and actively shape policy discussions.
“We are living inside of a revolution,” Dwayne said. “We have a fragile opportunity to co-create what comes next.” By integrating ethical considerations into how we adopt and interact with AI, we can navigate risks while responsibly embracing the opportunities this technology offers.
Transform Your Workforce for the Age of AI
The organizations that will excel in the coming decade aren’t those with the most advanced AI — they’re those whose people can work alongside AI most effectively. Our roster of keynote speakers offers practical, inspiring keynotes that not only help teams navigate technological disruption and advancement but develop essential human skills now and into the future of work.
Ready to future-proof your workforce? Contact us to learn how Tim Arnold, David Usher, Dr. Shimi Kang, Jamelle Lindo, Jennifer Barroll, and Dwayne Matthews can help your team leverage their uniquely human potential.
