4 Rare Skills: How to Become a Decider
In the past, most jobs were about “doing” and success was attainable by executing on a list of tasks.
Filing reports, spreadsheets, and following established processes was considered valuable. Reliable execution alone was enough.
But the rise of faster, smarter, and easier-to-use AI is changing how people provide value at work.
The technology is already an exceptional “doer”. And it’s getting better everyday.
There is good news though: success in the next-gen, AI-powered workplace can be achieved by doing what humans do best…
Evolving.
People who evolve from “doers” to “deciders” - capable of setting strategy and direction - will have the leverage at work.
When AI completes the tasks while you set the direction, the technology stops being your competition and becomes your engine.
So, how do you become a decider?
You become exceptional at:
1. General Business + Industry Context
Too many employees can tell you what their company ‘does’ but not how their company makes money. What product lines are important? What shifts are happening in the way your customers buy? Why? When we were just completing tasks, we didn’t necessarily need that info. But smart decisions require context.
These generalist/strategy mindsets were previously reserved for Exec and BizOps teams. But that was when the deciding was reserved for them too.
Role model: Shellye Archambeau
2. Attention Management
When the noise feels endless, winning deciders manage themselves and their attention. They prioritize effectively in and out of the office - including consideration about their health. They bring efficiency to problem solving because they’ve planned ahead.
Role models: John Zeratsky & Jake Knapp of Make Time
3. Creative Thinking
True strategy and problem solving are like tests. But they’re more like the essay section than multiple choice. Options are open-ended and you don’t know whether you made the right call or not without a little experimentation and revision. Deciders explore.
Role model: Rick Rubin & The Creative Act
4. Tech Intuition (Not just for software engineers!)
Broadly, this means you know both when and how to fully leverage technology throughout your day. Does your heart sink when you see someone copy and pasting a bunch of rows instead of building a Zapier? Do you sit down at most new systems and just kinda know how they work at a basic level? Or at least take the initiative to find out? Then you might already have strong “tech intuition.”
Deciders don’t just use technology every day. They leverage technology every day.
Role model: Steph Smith of a16z Podcast
Even today, these skills are more rare than you might expect and highly valued. By evolving from a doer to a decider you get to decide (pun-ish intended) what the future will hold.
