AI will not take your job in professional services

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When you’re in professional services, chances of AI taking your job are very slim.

That’s because of your firm’s business model. Which is conveniently ignored by doomsday prophets every time they predict the death of professional services firms.

As you know, the value chain of a professional services firm looks different from Michael Porter’s traditional value chain.

In accounting, consulting, engineering, HR, and law firms there are no raw materials that are turned into tangible products to market or sell.

Instead, your firm offers services. You help your clients overcome challenges through knowledge, data, and tools & methodologies.

Most likely, AI can help you boost your knowledge on global trends and industry specific events. It may support you in making sense of (unstructured) client-specific data. And it can probably increase the development speed of tools & methodologies. 

But then, there’s this other primary business activity in professional services firms: cultivating relationships & trust with key clients in the market.

Which hinges on something that can never be fully automated: actual human connections.

Of course, you can automate bits and pieces of building relationships:

• Technology can help you better understand the market’s needs.
• It can support you in creating compelling content to build authority.
• It can even reach out to prospects on your behalf.

A machine however, can never fully replace a human being seeking an actual connection with another human being.

We humans are social creatures by nature. That’s why we…

• Do our very best to understand other people’s perspectives and feelings – Empathy.
• Present ourselves in a way others can relate to – Authenticity.
• Appreciate people we share beliefs, a purpose, and goals with – Shared values.
• Feel good about ourselves when we’re able to help others – Support.

All of these things AI can not do.

So, AI will not take your job. It will change your job. Also, because it’s changing the jobs of others.

Let me know what you think!

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Thank you for reading MBD Spark #89 (formerly The Nudge & MBD Boost), sent on August 21, 2025.