In the wake of my recent article asking “Will marketing jobs be automated?” and discussing – as you would have guessed – the looming question of whether AI will supplant marketing jobs, a new dimension of professional skills emerges as a beacon of hope for those navigating the evolving job landscape.
This dimension, known as “mad skills” represents a suite of atypical, yet profoundly human capabilities that are increasingly catching the eye of recruiters and HR professionals. Different from hard skills (everything learned at school, in training or on the ground) and soft skills ( intrapersonal and interpersonal skills), I’ve observed a growing appreciation for these unique traits that machines cannot replicate.
But what are mad skills, exactly, and why are they becoming a critical consideration in the recruitment process?
What are Mad Skills?
Mad skills are essentially the unique, non-technical skills that you bring to the table:
- Sports Activities: Engaging in team sports like soccer can enhance one’s ability to work collaboratively, fostering a strong team spirit. Individual sports, such as running, are excellent for building endurance, while activities like climbing and hiking cultivate determination and resilience.
- Artistic Activities: Delving into the arts, whether it be through painting miniatures, lyrical singing, mastering the double bass, participating in improvisational theater, or exploring watercolors, can significantly boost creativity, self-confidence, and even public speaking skills.
- Personal Experiences: Life’s journey, with its challenges, adventures, and even periods of living abroad, shapes one’s character in profound ways. Those who travel extensively, for instance, often develop a remarkable ability to venture beyond the familiar and embrace the new.
- Volunteering: Committing time to causes, such as participating in a project to build a school in Asia or being an active member of a cultural association for a decade, demonstrates a deeply engaged personality. Such experiences are not only enriching but also merit recognition on a resume.
- Personal Activities and Interests: Individuals passionate about hobbies like hiking, cooking, history, parenting, or DIY projects often possess in-depth knowledge of their interests. This expertise sometimes inspires them to share their insights through blogging or other forms of content creation.
As you can see, these skills often stem from personal hobbies, life experiences, or innate talents that aren’t necessarily honed through formal education or professional training but are – I think – invaluable in the workplace.
Mad Skills as a Defense
The human elements of creativity, empathy, and intuition are increasingly becoming the differentiators between good and great professionals. Mad skills bring an irreplaceable human touch to marketing strategies, fostering innovation and creating connections that transcend the capabilities of AI.
Moreover, as the marketing landscape becomes more complex and competitive, companies are recognizing the value of diverse perspectives and innovative approaches to problem-solving. Mad skills can often lead to breakthrough ideas and strategies that might not emerge from conventional thinking patterns. They encourage a culture of innovation, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in marketing and beyond.
Cultivating Your Mad Skills
If you’re asking yourself how to remain relevant and irreplaceable, I truly believe that one of the potential answers lies in the deliberate cultivation of mad skills that set you apart from the crowd and from AI tools.
As a marketing professional, understanding how to nurture these skills can be your ticket to not only surviving but thriving in the next few years. Here’s how you can start:
Embrace Your Passions and Hobbies
Your hobbies and interests outside of work are fertile ground for developing mad skills. Whether it’s painting, coding side projects, engaging in community theater, or even extreme sports, these activities can be seen as real benefits from an HR point of view (they also enrich your life, making you a more well-rounded individual and professional). So, embrace these passions; they’re not just leisure activities but a crucial part of your professional development toolkit.
Seek Diverse Experiences
Exposure to diverse experiences, cultures, and perspectives is invaluable in developing empathy, adaptability, and innovative thinking—key components of mad skills. Travel, if you can, or immerse yourself in different cultures through books, films, and conversations. Volunteer for projects outside your comfort zone. Each new experience broadens your understanding of the world and enhances your ability to connect with a wider audience.
Continuous Learning and Curiosity
The foundation of mad skills lies in an insatiable curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning. This doesn’t necessarily mean formal education but rather a mindset of growth and exploration.
Follow your curiosity—attend workshops, listen to podcasts, read widely, and explore subjects unrelated to your field. This habit not only fuels creativity but also ensures you’re constantly adding to your repertoire of skills and knowledge.
Network and Collaborate
Networking isn’t just about professional advancement; it’s a chance to learn from others, gain new insights, and expose yourself to different ways of thinking. Collaborate with people from various backgrounds and disciplines. These interactions can spark new ideas, provide fresh perspectives, and strengthen your ability to work effectively in diverse teams—enhancing your mad skills in the process.
Recently, I attended two conferences, though seemingly unrelated to my day-to-day work, which provided me with fresh perspectives that enriched my understanding and approach to marketing, publishing two articles from them I suggest you to read about:
So, here’s a piece of advice: Go out! Embrace opportunities to engage with topics, people, and experiences outside your usual scope. Maybe mad skills can help us… being as essential for personal growth, well-being, than career resilience.
We know everything about it: AI and automation are rapidly reshaping the marketing landscape. Some of us are afraid about it. Don’t pretend you’re not.
I also know it’s all too easy to spend our free time passively, perhaps binge-watching the latest series on Netflix. However, investing time in developing mad skills—those unique talents and passions that lie outside the scope of our day-to-day job functions—offers a far more rewarding path.
From a personal standpoint, I see mad skills as an invaluable asset. And I’m really trying to improve myself these days…
What do you think about it?
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