AI talks. Humans Connect. Why building mental muscle can make or break your success.
Generative AI is incredible—I continue to discover new ways to use it. Yet, one skill still gives humans the edge: communication. Human communication = human connection.
Our ability to clearly convey ideas, influence others, and collaborate effectively remains central to our success, regardless of technology, automation, or the rise of AI. Communication is a durable skill. Timeless. Transferable. Resilient.
Yet, here’s the paradox: while tools evolve, our communication skills are declining. As mentioned in a recent Forbes article that explores hirable skills in college graduates, studies showed that “Graduates rank lower in communication, collaboration, strategic and critical thinking, and building relationships.” In a world buzzing with chatbots, theme-based tones, and predictive text, are we inadvertently letting technology erode the very skills that distinguish truly successful professionals?
I remember sitting in my Public Relations Writing course decades ago, staring at a blank page, desperate to get a paragraph just right. I would consult thesaurus, scribble countless drafts, search the dictionary and agonize over every word. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I submitted the assignment—and by then, I knew that paragraph like the back of my hand. I knew exactly why each sentence made the final draft. That painstaking process of drafting, re-drafting, and thinking critically about every sentence didn’t just produce a finished product—it built a skill that has lasted decades.
As archaic as it may seem, the way durable skills are cultivated is vastly different than blindly using generative AI tools which offers “good enough” drafts in seconds. The question remains: how will this show up in the next generation of professionals? Will their communication skills be a differentiator—or a skill lost to convenience?
Now, believe me, I get the convenience...Did I run this article through the AI editing machine, before posting? Hell yes I did! Naturally—because leveraging tools intelligently is part of the conversation. Who had a math teacher that said you had to memorize all your math facts because “you’ll never walk around with a calculator in your pocket”? Joke’s on you, Mr. Math Facts! But here’s the point: those math exercises weren’t just about numbers—they built mental muscle. Using technology wisely, without skipping the hard work that develops durable skills, is exactly what will set professionals apart.
As a college instructor, I’m learning that the emphasis needs to shift from the product to the process. As the article, Safeguarding Durable Skills in the Age of Generative AI explores, assignments that highlight creative thought, critical thinking, and problem-solving—not just the final output—are essential. And yet, I’m constantly negotiating the balance: embracing the efficiency, time savings, and creative opportunities AI offers, while ensuring students still develop durable skills that have withstood the test of time across industries, roles, and careers.
The challenge—and the opportunity—is this: how do we use these incredible tools to enhance skill development rather than replace it? How do we ensure that communication, that quintessentially human skill, remains strong, adaptable, and relevant in a world of instant answers?
Because at the end of the day, software may write words, but people still move ideas, influence teams, and drive impact through the skills that can’t be automated. And those are the durable skills…the ones that will endure and set you apart!
So…what skill have you built the hard way that you’re most proud of?
I hate to brag...but I do know my multiplication tables… (mostly…the 7’s and I still negotiate from time to time.) #mentalmuscle
