Fast Company, US: Cognizant Digital Business’ Vice President of Strategy and Marketing Discusses the Rise and Importance of Soft Skills In a Digital World

“We may live in a digital world, but soft skills like communication, problem solving, collaboration, and empathy are becoming more valued than technology,” says Paul Roehrig, co-author of  What To Do When Machines Do Everything: How To Get Ahead In A World Of AI, Algorithms, Bots And Big Data. “People skills are more and more important in an era where we have powerful and pervasive technology,” he says. “It sounds counterintuitive, but to beat the bot, you need to be more human.” Excerpts:

Technology and STEM skills may be in greater demand, but soft skills like communication, problem solving, collaboration, and empathy are needed in greater quantities now. “As machines do more routinized and lower-value-add work, more people are needed to work in context of what automation and AI cannot do,” Roehrig says.

There are four ways organizations can help employees develop skills for the future:

1. Evaluating the culture

2. Reward employees who exhibit soft skills

3. Strive to create a diverse workforce

4. Start a mentoring program

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