Reworking the Skill Code: How to Thrive in the Age of AI and Automation

As technology transforms work, preserving human skill requires intentional reworking of the skill code. This process unfolds in three stages: Discover, Develop, and Deploy.

Discover means deeply understanding local work contexts, uncovering shadow learning practices, and identifying threats to challenge, complexity, and connection. Psychological safety is essential to encourage honest dialogue and innovation.

Develop involves creating new roles that reconnect experts and novices, redesigning metrics to reward learning behaviors, and cultivating cultures that value skill alongside productivity. Empowering frontline workers to coach and innovate taps into hidden expertise.

Deploy is the practical implementation of these insights through policies, technology features, and leadership commitment. Balancing productivity and learning ensures sustainable growth.

Small changes—like reducing surveillance to foster safe learning spaces, redesigning onboarding to include meaningful rotations, or integrating challenge checklists in reviews—can produce outsized effects.

Reworking the skill code is an ongoing journey requiring humility, experimentation, and a shared vision that technology amplifies rather than diminishes human potential.

By embracing this approach, individuals and organizations can thrive in a future where mastery and innovation go hand in hand.