Critical strategies for career resilience and success in 2026

THE sentiment that 2025 felt like decades packed into a particularly challenging and stressful year abounds — with professionals both locally and globally grappling with unprecedented levels of uncertainty in the workplace.

- ADVAITA NAIDOO.

Developing the AI skills that will make a difference in your specific industry and role has become a professional imperative. | Freepik

(Freepik)

From rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and resultant job losses to shifting economic landscapes and evolving job roles, the message is clear: the accelerated pace of change is set to continue. However, now is not the time for worry — what’s needed is resilience and proactive preparation for career success.

There are five ways in which professionals can take concrete action to take control of their futures.

Develop AI literacy

This advice might seem obvious, but the fact is that there are still many professionals who have not taken action to ensure they have the AI skills that will make a difference in their specific industry and role. Using ChatGPT every now and then doesn’t count.

One of the foundational pillars for 2026 success and beyond is developing AI competency tailored to your role. Just like we developed essential skills for new tools in the past - think MS Word and Excel - getting to grips with Al is no longer optional.

However, when there are only vague expectations from employers, the landscape can feel overwhelming. To navigate this, focus on company-specific guidelines, data privacy requirements and regulatory frameworks that dictate what tools can and cannot be used. And rather than piecemeal adoption, start to actively collaborate with AI to enhance your job performance.