The Turbo Thinker's© Competitive Edge: Cultivating Irreplaceable Skills for Career Advancement
AI and Neurodiversity
Last weekend, I helped co-host a pool party with my beach volleyball team. Though we lost in the league playoffs, we certainly excel in organizing and executing fun team-building events. Between sets and by the blender, a close friend shared that she has decided to go back to graduate school and was awarded a scholarship to Tulane School of Social Work, a decision driven by the foresight that her job as a graphic designer was being replaced by the rapid advances in AI. "There will always be a need for mental health support, and I value the human connection," she explained. I could not agree with her more! And, as a fellow Turbo Thinker©, I see how her strengths make her well-suited for her newly chosen career. As an executive coach specializing in high-achieving professionals, what unique qualities do we Turbo Thinkers© possess that can't be replicated by machines?
Empathy
As Turbo Thinkers©, we may sometimes struggle with emotional regulation. Yet our ability to feel emotions intensely also allows us to feel emotions in others, resulting in a heightened sense of empathy, which leads to compassion and generosity.
How have you used your intense emotional awareness to connect with others in your professional life? In what ways could you further develop this strength to enhance your work relationships?
Intuition
Sometimes we can't find a logical explanation for what we perceive to be obvious. Our brain can recognize patterns and nuanced subtleties that help us make decisions based on a gut feeling.
Can you recall a time when your gut feeling led to a successful outcome at work? How might you create more space to trust and act on your intuitions in your professional decision-making?
Creativity
Because of our divergent thinking, we can innovate and solve problems by combining disparate thoughts in a non-linear manner. Our turbo-charged imagination leads to novel ideas and original artistic expression.
How has your ability to think divergently solved a problem in your workplace? What areas of your work could benefit from a more creative, non-linear approach?
Curiosity
Our innate sense of wonder has us constantly questioning and pushing the envelope. We challenge what is accepted as knowledge and conviction in only one perspective and loyalty to only one possibility. We have the ability to explore alternate stories and question the veracity or limitation of a situation.
How has your questioning nature led to innovations or improvements in your field? In what ways could you channel your curiosity to drive positive change in your professional environment?
Fun
When we give ourselves permission to play, Turbo Thinkers© are the life of the party. Unconstrained by society's expectations and spontaneous, we can be hilarious and vivacious.
How have you incorporated play or humor into your work life? What opportunities do you see to bring more of your spontaneous, vivacious self into your professional roles?
What strengths do you currently use regularly? How can you bring them into your professional environment? How can you set yourself apart from the logical, reasonable, predictable bots? In this AI-driven world, our unique Turbo Thinker© qualities serve as our competitive edge. How can you leverage them to advance your career? And for personal development, how can you create the next party? I'd love to come!