Writing down your processes is the key to effective work, but it’s increasingly becoming a sign that your job might not be AI-proof.
In some ways it’s been trending this way for years, well before AI even took off. Seth Godin wrote the book “Linchpin” back in 2010, but even then he said:
“There are no longer any great jobs where someone else tells you precisely what to do.”
That was less about your job being taken than it was about a job where you could really stand out, but those are quickly becoming one and the same. The key is being able to respond to issues and solve problems in a way that simply can’t be written down. Seth gives this example:
“Your restaurant has four waiters, and tough times require you to lay someone off. Three of the waiters work hard. The other one is good, but is also a master at solving problems. He can placate an angry customer, finesse the balky computer system, and mollify the chef when he’s had too much to drink. Any idea who has the most secure job?”
Being the troubleshooter wins. Again from Linchpin:
“Troubleshooting is never part of a job description, because if you could describe the steps needed to shoot trouble, there wouldn’t be trouble in the first place, right? Troubleshooting is an art, and it’s a gift from the troubleshooter to the person in trouble. The troubleshooter steps in when everyone else has given up, puts himself on the line, and donates the energy and the risk to the cause.”
We’ve all worked with people like that, and they’re amazing! Following processes for your job is very important, but those that can go off-script to solve unexpected problems that appear will always be the most valuable in any organization.
