The fourth industrial revolution is upon us globally! We humans need the right skills to be able to thrive in this fourth generation of Industrial development. We are on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work, and relate to one another. The revolution will be unlike anything the humankind has experienced before.
I can’t give you a full information on how massive this would be because I am still studying the trend. However, one thing is clear, we need to prepare for the industrial revolution. We need an integrated and comprehensive approach that involves all stakeholders (public, private, academia, civil society and everyone else) globally.
The picture below by World Economic Form shows the generations of industrial developments.
The First Industrial Revolution used water and steam power to mechanize production.
The Second used electric power to create mass production.
The Third used electronics and information technology to automate production.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is building on the Third – the digital revolution characterized by a fusion of technologies between the physical, digital, and biological spheres.
You can read more about the fourth industrial revolution, its challenges and opportunities, its impact on business, its impact on government, its impact on people and the future on The Fourth Industrial Revolution: what it means, how to respond, written by Klaus Schwab, the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.
What are the 10 Skills You Need to Thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution?
According to the World Economic Forum, here are the 10 skills you need
1. Cognitive Flexibility
2. Negotiation
3. Service Orientation
4. Judgment and Decision Making
5. Emotional Intelligence
6. Co-ordinating with Others
7. People Management
8. Creativity
9. Critical Thinking
10. Complex Problem Solving
These skills are so important. Which ones do you already have and which ones are you developing? It is important to know that you need these skills to be able to thrive in whatever industry you are in. If you want to stay competitive and get good returns from the fourth industrial revolution, then you need to develop these skills that would benefit you and what you do.
