I just finished a 4-week training through Coursera on how design thinking can be used to adapt to the future of work. It was taught by UNSW Business School, Sydney, MIT Sloan School’s Center for Digital Business, Amplify, and AMP. Applying my previous training in design thinking, I attended this training to learn how job seekers could apply human-centered design approaches to maximize the potential of their own work future.
The Future of Work is a world that has already begun and will continue to grow exponentially in the next few decades. It is a world where increased automation and advanced technologies like AI, VR, and robotics creates an environment where humans must adapt. Within this technologically enhanced workplace, there are critical skills and attributes that are needed for humans and machines to work cooperatively. We begin by celebrating the unique and superior human abilities that robots don’t have – emotional agility, creativity, empathy, judgement, and collaboration – all of which are in great demand in our increasingly automated workplaces. We then need to evaluate how potential changes in processes, people, and automation might impact the future of your own employment. Whether it is a need to up-skill with expertise in a specific technology or changing our mindset around a new process, it will take acceptance of the current market realities, an interest in learning, and a new mindset of what success looks like.
“We have ability to exploit opposing ideas and opposing constraints to create new solutions. When your pathway seems most narrow, you can invent a new way forward, even when making individual decisions.”
Jim Brown, Executive Chair and Former CEO, TEDGlobal talk, “Designers — Think Big!”
How can you design a career path that aligns your
purpose and passion with market realities?
You can use an abbreviated version of the design thinking framework (see above), to find a place where your talents and attributes are in demand. The framework consists of 4 parts.
- Empathize – Better understand the individuals and companies you are interested in working with.
- Define – Identify problems they are currently facing.
- Ideate – Creatively explore potential solutions as a path for your career.
- Test – Gather feedback from your trusted network and select your most viable solution.
For more information on how to Design Think Your Career, check out my blog post, connect with me on LinkedIn, or email me.
For more information on how to Design Think Your Career, check out my blog post or connect with me on LinkedIn or email me.