ESA Skill 8: Digital & AI Dexterity
- The Open Mind Institute
- Nov 7
- 2 min read
Staying Human in a Tech-Driven World
In our ESA (Essential Skills Assessment) series, we’re continuing to explore the capabilities shaping high-performance teams and future-ready workplaces.
So far, we’ve covered skills that fuel connection, clarity, adaptability, collaboration, and confident leadership.
This week, we shift to a capability that is accelerating opportunity—and anxiety—in equal measure.
Week 8: Using tech + AI without losing the human touch
Technology is evolving faster than most businesses can adapt. AI is reshaping workflows, communication, creativity, and decision-making.
But digital transformation isn’t just about tools, it’s also about people.
The teams that thrive aren’t the ones that adopt every new platform. They’re the ones who:
think critically about tech
integrate it purposefully
stay curious and open-minded
and use technology to enhance, not replace, human capability
AI doesn’t eliminate the need for human judgment, empathy, or creativity; it elevates those who can combine both.
What Digital & AI Dexterity Really Means
It isn’t just technical literacy. It’s the ability to:
✔️ understand emerging tools
✔️ experiment with and apply them
✔️ maintain ethical, people-centred use
✔️ balance automation with personal connection
In other words, being tech-capable and human-intelligent.
Why Organisations Need This Skill
Digitally capable teams can:
move faster and smarter
reduce friction in communication and operations
solve problems with data and creativity
improve collaboration, productivity, and innovation
stay competitive in an AI-enabled world
But they also protect what makes workplaces work: trust, empathy, psychological safety, creativity, and values-based decision-making.
Technology accelerates performance; human skills protect culture.
How to Build Digital & AI Dexterity
Here are practical ways individuals and teams can strengthen this skill:
Experiment often
Try new tools. Play. Learn. Curiosity beats fear.
Adopt technology with intention
Ask: "Does this enhance clarity, connection, or efficiency?"
Balance automation with empathy
Automate workflows, not relationships.
Stay human in communication
AI can assist; humans connect. Use tech to support presence, not replace it.
Keep ethics at the centre
Data privacy, transparency, fairness; trust is the currency of future workplaces.
Invest in continuous learning
Digital literacy isn’t a one-time project; it’s a mindset.
The Takeaway
AI is the present.
The question isn’t whether technology will transform work, but whether teams will grow the skills to use it thoughtfully, responsibly, and creatively.
The winning organisations will be the ones that master both: human intelligence + artificial intelligence.
💡 Next Week: We explore Time Management & Prioritisation—how high-performing individuals stay focused, avoid busyness traps, and protect the work that matters most.
If you’re ready to explore what’s possible with ATAR, we’d love to start that conversation.
Xin Yi Ng (Michelle)
Research & Development Lead
Comments