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Facing the AI onslaught, young workers need a new skill: Humility
Entry-level roles give new recruits an opportunity to develop intuition and judgment. But a lack of humility could be stunting the development of future leaders, argues IMD’s Katharina Lange.
AI is taking on an increasing number of tasks previously carried out by humans. If repetitive work such as data entry, document classification and summarizing reports is not already the exclusive remit of AI in your business, the chances are it will be before long. Continual upgrading of the technology mean it will soon be equipped to undertake creative and analytical tasks too.
Despite doom-laden predictions about the impact of AI on employment, there will always be a need for humans to train, instruct and supervise AI. Doing this effectively, as well as verifying its output requires a high level of domain expertise and intangible knowledge. This is only acquired by observation which over time leads to the refined cognitive intuition that is needed to use the insights from AI appropriately.
Take barristers, for example. Many already, or will shortly, use AI-powered tools to research case law, draft skeleton arguments or index bundles of evidence. But in the moment, AI is not able to understand intuitively which arguments will resonate with a particular judge or jury. This is why it is hard to imagine a machine wearing a wig arguing a case in court.
Leaders must protect junior roles
As businesses deploy AI more widely for repetitive tasks, executives are beginning to question the need for the current number of junior roles. Here lies danger. Entry-level roles offer an invaluable opportunity to develop expertise and intuition in a relatively low-pressure environment. Cutting junior staff today inevitably means losing domain expertise tomorrow. What’s more, it depletes the pipeline of future managers and executives. So, even if entry-level employees are no longer needed to conduct low-level tasks, it’s still worth investing in them to fulfil the future needs of the business.
CHROs should hire and structure entry-level roles in a way that maximizes their ability to build domain expertise. Rather than hiring junior staff into a specific job, it makes more sense to hire people that possess transferrable skills and provide work and learning experience in different departments. This allows them to gain an overview of the business, “connect the dots”, and develop system thinking. Many large companies have already adopted this approach through graduate programs.
Respect goes both ways: younger employees should respect more experienced colleagues in their hierarchical position.
The importance of humility and hierarchy
In times of instant gratification and narcissistic self-portrayal, humility is a rare quality. But it is crucial to building emotional, social and intellectual competence. Entry-level employees who are humble enough to know that they don’t know are much more likely to learn than peers who overestimate their readiness for more senior roles.
Societal changes, combined with well-intentioned policies to flatten hierarchies and promote openness, may inadvertently discourage deferential attitudes toward more experienced colleagues.
Respect goes both ways: younger employees should respect more experienced colleagues in their hierarchical position. Executives in senior positions must provide learning opportunities for new starters and promote self-reflection and a desire to learn.
Leaders and managers can help this process by demonstrating humility and respect. CHROs should encourage executives and team leaders to establish psychological safety to learn and contribute without compromising accountability and the need to perform.
As AI goes mainstream, human domain knowledge and professional intuition should be used as a source of competitive advantage. Entry-level roles help young employees develop these capabilities. Cost savings that threaten these roles might come with an expensive bill later. CHROs should fight to preserve them, while also instilling a mindset of humility and respect that will allow new recruits to make the most of the opportunity they offer.
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