In changing times, you must shape up or ship out

For good or bad, media disruption is fast, widespread, and growing.

Our world is evolving, and it is a fact that if the media industry does not innovate, it will die.

Change is one of the hardest things to accomplish, yet it is the most rewarding. We are accustomed to our comfort zones, not because we are afraid of them.

Our world is changing, and the stakes are higher than ever. Job security does not exist. On several fronts, we are witnessing disruptions with no end in sight.

No industry, profession, nation or currency is protected. Blockchain and other disruptive technologies are advancing. This trend will only get worse.

In 2020, the world experienced the Covid-19 pandemic. It evolved from a global epidemic to a way of creating ideas and restructuring sectors in line with future global crises.

Most likely, the pandemic was a blessing in disguise. The pandemic had its own pros and cons. It restructured our ways of thinking.

During and after the pandemic, there was significant media disruption. The use of social media increased. Digital adoption was fast; no one expected it to be quick!

Recently, many media houses embarked on a mission to accelerate their business transformation agenda to guarantee the sustainability of journalism under the new norm. The reorganization of its agenda will result in the loss of several jobs. Many scribes are in a cognitive catch-22 situation regarding the future of media. Will they fit into a disruptive sector?

According to new data, over half of office workers worldwide are anxious about losing their employment within the next five years owing to an obsolete skill set.

Research conducted by PwC on hopes and fears among a sample of 32,500 employees revealed a mixed story. Some 60 per cent are concerned that automation will put many jobs in danger. Of respondents, 48 per cent believe regular employment will cease.

Temporary jobs will be more, according to 56 per cent of respondents while 39 per cent anticipate their job will become obsolete within the next five years.  Sixty one per cent believe that government should take action to safeguard jobs. Those aged 18 to 34 (66 per cent) hold this idea more strongly than those over 55 (51 per cent).

According to IMD’s 2021 Digital Vortex Report, digital disruption is underway in all sectors. Of executives questioned across 14 sectors, 90 per cent believe the extent of change is significant. Disruption is influencing all industries and competitiveness is high.

The gap between existing skills and those required for the digital age is widening. Being uncompetitive in the digital age cannot be overcome by upgrading what you do but by upgrading your thinking. If you change your thoughts, you can change your world.

What should you do to stay competitive and relevant in a dynamic market?

Adaptability is essential. The employment created by technology will almost certainly be considerably different from the ones lost. Continuous learning is required. Substantial attention from the government, NGOs, and companies is needed to bridge the gap in accessing learning opportunities.

Your most valuable assets for reinventing yourself are your learning capacity, intellectual capital, expertise and technological know-how. Maintaining your expertise helps you stay competitive and perform well.

According to Robert Green, author of  The Mastery, to become irreplaceable in this competitive marketplace, you need to attain mastery, which unlocks a higher level of intelligence and creative ability that will be hard to outsource or automate.

Rediscovering our primal curiosity is crucial. Many schools and universities kill curiosity. We hope the competency-based curriculum will address this.

Green urges that you should put learning ahead of everything else; even if pay is meagre or your efforts are not recognised. Constantly stay abreast of disruptions.

Compounding talent, and experience in several disciplines will allow you to carve out a niche field where you are considered unique. Survival of a knowledge economy is dependent on the abilities of residents.

We do not need to fear missing out or becoming obsolete. If we embrace the inevitable as opportunity and change rules that are no longer relevant, we can be resilient, relaxed and relevant.

—The writer is an innovations evangelist and a PhD candidate

—machariamuhoho@gmail.com