Closing the Digital Literacy Confidence Gap
This post is part of our “Future-Fit Talent” series, drawn from our latest survey of 280+ Australian HR and L&D professionals. Each week we unpack a different insight from the research and share practical steps you can apply right away.
Australian HR professionals are confident about their leaders’ people skills, 73% rate existing leaders’ soft skills “very” or “extremely” strong, and 69% feel similarly about overall leadership capability. The confidence dissolves when we talk tech: only 57% are equally confident in leaders’ digital literacy. Looking ahead, the story barely improves; confidence in future leaders’ digital skills creeps to 63%.
Small firms feel the pinch most, digital-literacy confidence slides to 45% in companies with fewer than twenty employees, yet the strategic importance is widely accepted. A separate Deloitte study shows 65% of organisations now prioritising digital skills in leadership development programs1.
How do we close the gap before AI accelerates far beyond leadership comfort zones?
- Validate, don’t assume. Integrate assessments that measure a leader’s potential across competencies, and ensure they are aligned with actual performance.
- Prioritise digital learning. Invest in digital literacy training, such as micro-learning, to build this capability in existing and future leadership talent.
Digital literacy is no longer an optional extra; it is the ticket to play.
Ready to dig deeper? Watch our “Future-Fit Talent” webinar on-demand to explore the data in full. We’d love to hear what stands out for you.
SOURCES:
- Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends Report 2023