The 5 C’s to reshape your career - being human in the age of AI
‘Even if you’re not changing your job, your job is changing’
I’ve noticed a big shift in my clients this year - it feels like we are standing on a threshold that is transforming at an alarming rate. AI is impacting all aspects of work, life, and the very foundations of how we might view our work life.
It feels to me like the rules are changing, and no one has yet written the handbook for ‘careers in the AI era.’ But despite this shifting career landscape, I know it’s more important than ever for us to be able to steer our own direction, to know where individual fulfilment lies, and which of the problems of today and tomorrow we each want to help solve.
Now is the time to lean into your individuality because the age of compliance is over - it’s time to be creative with how you work and what you have to offer. As the career ladders we grew up with dissolve before our eyes, we cannot expect to always slot into a given career path. The opportunity now is to invent as you go - take the strengths you have, match them with the things you care about, what feels meaningful and the problems that need solving today.
In their recent book ‘Open to Work’, Ryan Roslansky and Aneesh Raman define 5 particularly human strengths that we will need to design a career that is fit for today. They call these, ‘the engine of human innovation’: curiosity, courage, compassion, creativity, and communication.
I spoke about human strengths in my previous article ‘AI-proof your career:amplify your human strengths’, and here, I want to explore the 5 Cs and how you can start thinking about these in relation to your own career.
According to Roslansky and Raman::
‘The unique capabilities we have as humans, those skills we haven’t been deliberately measuring, are what make us irreplaceable.’
And for that reason alone, they are worth your time and effort, firstly to identify your unique combination of human strengths (as in my last article), then to practice them, and uniquely combine them.
I listened to an interesting discussion between Helen Tupper of ‘Squiggly Careers’ and Aneesh Raman in which they discussed the 5 Cs and what they might mean in practice.
What I’m adding along with a short exploration of each, are questions you can ask to get a steer on how they might offer ways forward as you begin to redirect your work and life.
Curiosity
Roslansky and Raman call curiosity ‘our most important advantage as humans.’ Curiosity is about wondering, exploring, being open. What truly fascinates you and takes you down a research rabbit hole until the small hours? There you might find a clue for your future.
Curiosity is much more than information because it asks the question ‘why?’ It takes you into new territory, asking the questions no one has asked before.
If you’ve ever been stuck with a problem at work, what will have helped you find a solution is your curiosity asking ‘what if we try this, or maybe that?’ You’re entering the landscape of experiment or prototyping, and your curiosity has led you there.
My question for you: what are you currently fascinated by?
How might you harness that interest in a career? By all means use Chat GPT or your preferred AI assistant to suggest some options, perhaps limit it to six, then see which one or two resonate and might be worth exploring. For your favourite option also ask: why does this resonate and what really appeals about this topic/career?
And vitally, give yourself time to answer both questions. Some will find working in partnership with a coach is helpful for accountability and momentum. [If that’s you, my offers are here]
Courage
We’re not talking bungee jumping here, but we are talking about venturing into the unknown. To a certain extent we do this daily, so what if we nurtured this skill by taking small courageous steps every day? ‘Tiny experiments’ then become a habit that exercise your courage and take you from the compliance model (the old career ladder where you had to fit the template to move up) to forging your own path by daring on a small scale every day.
It could be striking up a conversation with a new colleague, or speaking in a meeting where you are usually silent. Yes, there is an element of risk, but there are also riches to be won - a potential ally or friend, or the chance to take on a new project that really interests you.
As you attempt small risks, you become more courageous. If you harness those risks to a subject or a value that really matters to you, it can become something worth risking your comfort for.
As Roslansky and Raman say: “AI can calculate risk. Only humans decide what risk is worth taking.’
My question for you: what would you explore for your career if you couldn’t fail?
This is an important first piece of information. Really diving into the possibilities of that option with curiosity allows you to sense where your own risk line sits. But beware of those inner critics who want to keep you exactly where you are in the belief that you are safe. We know this is no longer true and the status quo is shifting, so action on your own terms is an empowering choice.
Creativity
‘AI can remix what already exists. Only humans reimagine what is possible.’
And that reimagining extends to the nature and shape of your career. Many people don’t think of themselves as creative types, but in fact if you’ve ever had a blank sheet of paper and designed something to fill it, that makes you creative!
Imagination is involved, but attaching that vision to something that matters to you and really plays to your strengths gets those creative juices flowing even stronger.
To a certain extent we all need to flex our creative muscles at this point in history because everything is changing so fast. That can be frightening, sometimes paralysing, but it can also be a wonderful opportunity to shape things according to your strengths, needs and desires.
My question to you: The flow state is a natural home for creativity. Think about a time when you were in flow - when time disappeared and you were absorbed in a task that both deeply interested you and matched your capabilities. Everything came together seemingly with ease. What were you doing? What skills were you using? Why do you think you were so engaged in the task? Why did it matter to you?
The answers point to some valuable areas to explore - either for their intrinsic interest or because you were using your favourite skills. Think about how you can design more of those into your work life.
Compassion
We all definitely need a huge dollop of compassion as we live through the beginnings of the AI era. Depending on your own context it could be horribly stressful, a time of worry, of running to catch up, of fear for the future of your career. So self-compassion is a vital place to start. Allow yourself time to draw breath, to carve out time for the things that rejuvenate and nourish you. Allow a pause.
Looking outward, it’s also an important time for listening fully. What are others in your team or colleagues, or clients feeling? Really listen to them, provide a safe psychological space for them to open up. We all need compassion as old patterns of work are disrupted. Change is always challenging, so leaning into the empathy we have as humans is really important for your own wellbeing as well as for the people around you.
It’s a time to practice gratitude, remembering at the end of each day what you are thankful for. Be as specific as you can, it helps to reset your brain and outlook as you build this habit.
My question for you: what do you love about yourself?
Think about your life as a whole and the different roles you have. This is about your personal qualities, your human achievements. This helps to reinforce your specific strengths and values and to remind yourself of what others see in you too.
Communication
AI makes accessible an enormous bank of information, knowledge, and learning. But your edge as a human being is your story - your experiences, human qualities, career story, life story. Everything you have lived through has added something to the person you are today. What is the story you want to tell - and what will you create for the next chapter?
Being able to tell your own career story - and the ‘why’ that joins the different episodes is a valuable way of understanding not only what brought you here, but where you might want to go next. Make it simple, join the dots.
My question to you: Tell your career story in 3-4 clear chapters.
What attracted you to each role, what did you enjoy and achieve, what drew you to the next opportunity? You might find my guide ‘Joining the Dots in your Career Transitions’ helpful. You can download it here.
Amplify your Human
You will probably have noticed that several of the 5 Cs overlap. Together, they amplify each other. According to self-styled ’professional mad scientist’ Vivienne Ming:
’They feed each other: curiosity without courage leads to inaction. Creativity without communication remains a private hobby. Compassion gives our work purpose.’
If you’re starting to ponder your next chapter or want to enlist a human ear for the answers to the questions I have posed here, I’d love to hear from you. I can act as your email accountability partner for anything your are testing or mulling over, or for a longer chat book a Career Crossroads Call to dive in a little deeper in your quest to create something better for yourself. You don’t have to reimagine your work and life alone! For either option, use the button to get in touch:
*All quotes unless otherwise stated are from ‘Open to Work’ by Roslansky and Raman.
More resources for career and life reinvention in the AI era:
The Quickstep Career Change Programme - for those seeking a mid-career pivot towards greater meaning and purpose
The Legacy Chapter - for those nearing the end of a successful career who want to design a life in a new balance between expertise, passion and purpose