Over the last week, I’ve had conversations with three very different people: an accountant, a designer, and a business owner. Different professions. Different work. Different perspectives. And yet, each conversation eventually came back to the same question: “What work will technology replace?” It’s a question we’re all asking. What will AI be able to do faster? What tasks will it automate? What work that we do today will look completely different a few years from now?

But I think there’s another question we should be asking: “What skills will become even more valuable because of technology?” As I think about those conversations over the past week, I keep coming back to one answer: Our ability to connect with people.

As more technical tasks become automated, our ability to understand people, communicate clearly, build trust, and navigate difficult conversations becomes even more important. Because clients don’t just need answers. They need someone they trust. Someone who can help them make a decision when the answer isn’t obvious. Someone who can ask the question they haven’t thought to ask. Someone who can help them see an opportunity (or a risk) they may have missed.

The same is true inside our firms. Our people don’t need leaders who simply have the answers or know how to get the information. They need leaders who listen, ask good questions, give effective feedback. They need leaders who coach and develop others while creating an environment where people can do their best work.

Technology can provide information.
People create connection.
And trust is built one interaction at a time.

So here’s something to think about this week: Where could you be more intentional about a relationship? Maybe it’s asking a better question instead of jumping in with an answer. Maybe it’s listening a little longer. Maybe it’s having the conversation you’ve been putting off. Or maybe it’s offering insight instead of simply providing information.

The future of our profession won’t be defined by who adopts AI the fastest. It will be defined by who learns to combine the power of technology with the human skills that make expertise matter.

Technical expertise is essential.
Technology amplifies it.
Professional skills are what transform expertise into lasting impact.