Are YOU Future Proof?

The year that went by was cataclysmic. The pandemic has devoured over 2 million lives and infected over 83 million people around the world. This is by far the biggest crisis we have seen, perhaps, since World War II or the Great Depression. 24 million students are out of school and 400 million jobs are lost so far. All continents are hit by recession and around 100,000 businesses are closed permanently in the US alone! Some of the well-known brands like J C Penny have gone bankrupt. Unemployment is at its highest since world war II. The economic cost of all this is estimated to be around 16 trillion dollars! (India’s GDP is 2.6 trillion). Did anyone see all this coming?  

In such a dynamic and kaleidoscopic world, is it possible to future proof? My answer would be a YES and NO. NO, because I am not an Alvin Toffler to predict a Future Shock! YES, because some of the core skills like positive attitude, inter-personal skills etc., keep you in good stead even in the worst of times. So, it would be good idea that today’s youth who are in College or the youngsters who have embarked on their careers prepare themselves to face the unfolding challenges and uncertainties by future proofing themselves to the extent possible.   

In a way, those who are in college are all privileged because they are one of the rare few in India who will have a college degree. As per data in 2016, only 27% of the top 10% earners in India have even a college degree, forget Engineering. And it is worse, when you consider the world population. If you take 100 as the world population, only 7 have university education! So, when the current crop of graduates starts their life after completing their degree, they would have a head start over thousands of others.

How do we future proof? The most important thing to do during the next 2-3 years, of course, besides graduating from chosen disciplines, is to prepare yourself to face the challenges of the world. College and home are relatively safe and stable environments whereas once you embark on your career a lot more responsibilities and expectations are placed on you. So, the aim during the next 2-3 years should be to utilize this time and prepare well for these unknown challenges. These are some thoughts based on current situation and past experience.

In order to prepare, we need to know 2 things. They are:

1.    The context in which we will operate – the work environment

2.    What capabilities we need to build in order to sustain, grow and be a productive member of the organisation and therefore the society where we live

Discussing a few key areas will be in order.

The world, as we know, is changing dramatically. Who would have thought a few months ago that everyone would be working from home or all learning will happen online due to this pandemic? So, we need to be aware of the known drivers of change and be prepared for these unfolding and at times unexpected changes:

1.    Rise of Smart Machines and Systems – Technology is augmenting and extending our own capabilities. Workplace automation is killing repetitive jobs. Driverless cars are not a fantasy anymore. Recently I saw a video where an Indian American is controlling a drone by his hand gestures – it is as if he was performing some magic!

2.    It is a computational world now. The increase in sensors and processing makes the world a programmable system. IOT, AI, Deep learning etc., combined with the data will give us the ability to see things on a scale that was never possible before. Technology is changing so fast that it is hard to keep up with the changes! Every individual has to be a computer literate to survive in this world!

3.    New Media Ecology has arrived. Every organisation is going digital. New communication tools need media literacies beyond text. Visual communication media has become the new tool for communication, even among the illiterate masses and is a very powerful medium. Who would have thought about a year ago that there would be online classes or that we would be attending a local wedding on the ubiquitous “zoom?”

4.    The era of super structured organisations is there to stay. You may still come to work in Chennai or Bengaluru, but you will be collaborating with a team member in New Zealand for a Client in Brazil! It is a globally connected world. It is a global supply chain too. Diversity and adaptability are mandatory to not only survive but grow beyond our backyard. So, your thinking has to move from being local to Global. Relationship building and inter-personal skills assumes great significance.

 It must be understood that once we step into an organisation and a changing world as indicated above, we will not be individuals but part of a team and therefore, an organisation. Some of these skills are absolutely essential to grow and succeed, irrespective of the times we live in.   

1.    We are living in a world which pays a premium for knowledge. Do not confine yourself to your syllabus alone. Read books, magazines, journals and enhance your knowledge in contemporary topics. For example, in Software, your syllabus may not cover data analytics or Deep Learning. Ensure that you spend time to know these areas. This is a continuous process lasting a lifetime. Wherever feasible, engage in real projects with hands-on experience in your spare time. This enhances your skills and marketability.

2.    Communication is the key to success in any field. So, improve your communication skills. English is the most widely spoken and used language. So, hone your skills. Read newspapers, talk to each other in English in your college, attend coaching classes, if required. This skill empowers you and differentiates you from the next person. A good communicator wins always! Do not have inhibition about accent or fluency. You can develop it over a period of time. Develop basic writing skills, especially Email etiquettes.  

3.    Practice open, honest and effective exchange of information. Good communication does not mean a flowery language but one that helps you communicate ideas effectively. Simple language is always understood and appreciated. 

4.    The world is ever changing and in a dynamic fashion that none of us anticipated. A person, in today’s context, is deemed intelligent, if he adapts to change. Be an intelligent person and adapt to change and evolve. Go along with the flow without resisting it. Be flexible and assimilate change. Else you will fall by the wayside.

5.    As stated earlier, you will be working in a multicultural / global environment. Hence it is important to appreciate this and understand different cultures and embrace nuances of different cultures. This is one of the most challenging tasks that you need to work on. There are a number of books on the way different cultures work, manage time, communicate etc., For example, our concept of time is very laid back. If a wedding reception is announced at 7 pm, invariably it starts around 8 pm! This is not acceptable in many cultures. You need to be aware and adapt. There is no superior or inferior culture. Know that each culture is different. Adapt effectively without any inhibition.

6.    As you will be working in teams, building relationships is a skill that you need to develop. You need to bring cohesiveness by being committed to the team and its goals. This can be practiced in your college being committed to your projects and courses. Collaboration is the key. It needs to be demonstrated as well. Inter-personal skill is one of the most prized possessions that will take you very far wherever you work. Not many can boast of this skill though many claim it on paper.

7.    Whatever you choose to do, be passionate about it. Passion is all about following your heart and doing what comes to you naturally. Introspect and identify and develop your passion. Learn to be innovative and creative. Those are the people for whom the industry pays a premium!

8.    Time is the scarcest resource anyone can have. Do the important and not only the urgent things. Develop planning and time management skills. These will keep you in good stead in the ever-demanding corporate world.

9.    Continuous learning is the norm today. Be mentally prepared to learn continuously over your career span and beyond. There is no substitute for this trait to help you be ahead of the rest. I know of people who retired 10 years ago, still attending webinars and seminars!  

10.  Zig Ziglar says, “Attitude determines your Altitude!” A Harvard study found that 85% of the reason why a person gets a job, keeps a job and moves ahead is because of his ATTITUDE. Only 15% is due to his specific skills. So, develop a healthy attitude to learning, job, workplace and life in general. A positive attitude coupled with hard work is a definite recipe for success.

 Do you know why women wear Diamond jewelry? It is because diamonds are rare. If they were common, no one will wear them. Just imagine – there has been NO ONE like each one of you over 5 billion years of Earth’s existence and there will be NO ONE in future also. That is why they take your finger prints for everything. You are not only rare but UNIQUE in creation. You are talented and YOU are the only person on earth who can use your ability! The onus is on you to identify, prepare and use this unique gift of GOD for your benefit and for the benefit of humanity. Enjoy your life and be a source of happiness to others too.

All the best!  A very HAPPY NEW YEAR!