I attended a conference in Washington DC in early May of 2025. The Association for Talent Development (ATD) is a global talent development network of individuals that range in job roles ranging from corporate to consulting. These talent development professionals hold value in that they are helping to build skilled professionals in organizations and industries across the world.
With how rapidly we are seeing the world change due to technological advancements and other things alike, being skilled and leveling up your skills is taking shape in a different way. Skills that used to be considered novel are now being blacklisted due to advancements that have deemed those skills no longer necessary. But what skills are still necessary?
According to World Economic Forum, along with the increase of artificial intelligence related skills, the need for empathy, emotional intelligence and self-awareness is also increasingly important over the next five years. But why are these skills important?
Simply put, there are things that artificial intelligence cannot replace. Some would say ‘for now’, while others might say ever. As we increasingly become more spread a part, with social media at our hands and in our face, we also feel the outstretched need to connect with one another on a deeper level. Showing others we care, showing up for people the way they need us to show up for them rather than us showing up for them in the ways we need others to show up for us. Being aware in that others experiences are different from mine, but taking time to find that relatability point as well.
Skills continue to change and the way in which we grow and cultivate those skills also continue to change. It is our job as talent development professionals to stay ahead of the curve and create open dialogue with individuals of all ages to identify how needs are changing from generation to generation and group to group.
