Are you ready to learn?

There are two parts to the word Learnability. Learn: the intelligence and the swiftness in which you acquire knowledge. Ability: the skill that you apply what you have learnt! Only when you combine your intelligence and skills, you are truly learning. In this VUCA world, learnability is a characteristic that all leaders are looking for. It is a personality imperative for everyone to be abreast with latest upgrades, technological changes and other advancements and amendments in policies, etc.

I think of my father who will soon be eighty years old. He never used a computer in his entire life while on the job. Computers were not pervasive those days. His problem-solving skills don't cease to amaze me even today. I envy his cognitive thinking, analytical skills and the technical knowledge on Heavy Motor Vehicles - his core area. First, he would detect a persisting problem, describe it at length, and then get deeper to explain how the problem arose. Then, of course, the solution or the process of it. Being in the thick of his core area did not stop his inner desire for learning. Not having used computers for his work-related stuff, today at the age of 80, he is well-versed with smartphones and their applications. That's the point.

In the age of rapid digitization, if one doesn't keep pace, she or he will be alienated. To be relevant in the space of Artificial Intelligence in HR, one not only needs to continuously learn, but also provide value to the stakeholders.

Our recent study on the adoption levels of AI in HR by the industry revealed that almost 50% of HR professionals in India are not ready to implement AI in their organizations. And, that's primarily due to the lack of knowledge in AI and the fears associated with the subject. That's a huge number. AI is the next wave of technological revolution that no one can afford to miss. All I would like to tell my HR fraternity is that we need to nurture our technical curiosity, have a keen acumen for data and bundle that with a bit of analytical skills in order to stay relevant in Industry 4.0!

In the new AI age, HR is expected to have the ability to add value to businesses by being creative problem solvers, attract and develop new talent, improve internal customers' (read: employees) experience, provide analytical support for quicker decisions, and make more efficient use of HR budgets.

Employees today expect interesting and long lasting engagements with "WoW" moments. As an HR professional, you would be able to do that only when you are backed with solid data points. A well-informed perspective is important to anticipate emerging challenges and be better prepared for the same. In today's knowledge economy, continuous learning is an imperative, not an option.

As we transition to a world that is totally "networked", HR professionals are expected to not only be on the learning curve themselves, but also promote learning as part of their organizational culture and DNA. So, Happy Learning!

UMASANKER KANDASWAMY