Technology is changing our world to such an extent that the majority of children in school today will do jobs that don't yet exist; a report by Dell and the Institute for the Future predicts that 85 percent of jobs that will be available in 2030 haven't been invented yet.¹ It's a staggering prediction. But how realistic is it? In my opinion, it's not nearly as outlandish as it sounds. Just think about how much has changed in the last decade, particularly when it comes to social media, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI).

And this pace of change is only going to accelerate as we further enter into a new industrial revolution, the fourth industrial revolution. Just as with the previous industrial revolutions, this will change the work that humans do, as many jobs evolve, some jobs become obsolete, and new jobs emerge.

In other words, the skillset and experience required from the workforce will be very different in the future. So when we think about the essential skills for success, we need to consider not just the jobs that exist today, but the sorts of jobs that may exist in the future, in a world in which more and more jobs (and parts of jobs) are given over to machines.

I don't say this to fill you with fear or dread. This isn't a “Robots are coming for our jobs. Be afraid” type of book. Far from it. I believe the future of work is bright.

Reshaping Work for the Better

Building on the previous industrial revolution (which was driven by advances in computing), this fourth industrial revolution (driven by automation and connected technologies) will continue to fundamentally reshape the future of work. Almost every job is going to change as more intelligent AIs and robots share work with us.

But far from detaching us from our humanity, I believe this wave of new technologies will make work more human, not less. What can be automated will be automated, leaving humans to do the work that we're ultimately better suited to—tasks that rely on distinctly human skills like complex decision-making, creativity, empathy and emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and communication. These are the sorts of skills where humans outperform even the most intelligent machine. This is where we excel. And it's where the future of work lies. In more human, more fulfilling work.

On the whole, then, I see this reshaping of work as a positive thing for those of us who are already in the workforce, and for our children, who will do jobs that we can't even imagine. (After all, the previous industrial revolutions have made our lives better. There's no reason to expect any different this time around.) But this wave of transformation comes at a time when employers around the world are already struggling to close skills gaps and fill vacancies.² The gap between the skills currently available within the workforce and the skills that businesses need in the fourth industrial revolution threatens to become a chasm. We must address this.

The people who will gracefully surf this wave of digital transformation will be those who have the right mix of essential future skills. Skills, then, will be a key differentiator of success. No big surprise there. But you might be surprised by some of the skills that will be most in demand.

Softer Skills Will Shine

When we talk about essential skills for this brave new digital world, many assume we're talking about tech skills, such as coding. In fact, thriving in the digital world isn't about having deep technical knowledge—rather, it's about understanding the technologies underpinning this fourth industrial revolution and the impact that these technologies will have on the future of work. It's about understanding the relative strengths of both people and technology, and how we can capitalize on those strengths. Therefore, future skills lean much more towards softer skills than you might think—towards skills that will enable humans to succeed in the digital world (not compete with machines for easily automated work). Of course, some jobs will require technical skills, but the majority of in-demand skills will be soft skills—basically, the things that machines can't do.

However, many of these skills are currently not (or very poorly) taught in traditional education settings. Schools place too much emphasis on traditional academic subjects like math; meanwhile, the enormous value in soft skills goes often unrecognized. Ironically, schools are teaching students to look good to an algorithm, instead of teaching them the skills needed to thrive in the future job market.

It's a shame because, unlike IQ, which is to some extent genetically determined, these essential skills for success are all skills that anyone can acquire and improve. Which is where this book comes in.

What to Expect from This Book

This book is for anyone who wants to equip themselves with the essential skills for success, whether you're just starting out in your career, well established in your field, considering a career change, grappling with changes in your industry, or just looking to future-proof an already successful career. There is something for everyone in this book, regardless of your chosen industry, job title, or education.

Each chapter of this book explores a key skill that businesses will be looking for in the future. I start each chapter by outlining the skill in question, then explore why that skill matters, and conclude with practical steps you can take to gain or improve that skill. With 20 skills to cover, this isn't an in-depth exploration of each skill, but it is a thoughtful summary, with helpful signposts and plenty of practical tips. More than anything, my goal is to give you the motivation for future learning, and provide you with a roadmap to explore these vital skills further, delving deeply into those areas where you want to or need to grow.

And I also hope this book fills you with optimism for the future of work, and indeed our world in general. Because, yes, there will be displacement of jobs—I can't pretend that millions won't lose jobs due to automation, because they will—but millions more jobs will emerge to replace those that have been lost. Furthermore, I firmly believe that technology will help us create a world that is more human, where we can leverage humans' amazing potential to solve the world's biggest problems (like climate change and inequality) and, ultimately, make the world a better place. These essential skills will help us all play our role in that vision.

So where to start? Most of the skills in this book are soft skills, but there's no denying that the ability to understand and work confidently alongside technology will continue to grow in importance. So let's begin our journey there, with the tech-adjacent skills for success, before we move onto the softer, more human skills.