Imagine a world where you can practice your communication skills with a virtual partner who never gets tired, always gives you honest feedback, and helps you improve faster than ever before. That world is here, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) in professional development!

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The Rise of AI in Workplace Learning

Companies are discovering that AI can be a powerful ally in helping employees grow their "soft skills" – critical skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Recent studies show that AI-enabled training tools can create personalized learning experiences, provide instant feedback, and use data to make training more effective and fun.

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Why Soft Skills Matter More Than Ever

You might think that as AI becomes more common in the workplace, human skills will become less important. But it's the opposite! A study of almost 700 business leaders found that as AI use increases, they value soft skills even more (Cardon). Why? Because AI works best when it enhances human abilities and helps us connect with each other.

Interestingly, 72% of people who use AI often say that speaking skills will become more important, while only 50% think writing skills will be as crucial since AI is getting better at writing like a human (Cardon). This is a big change from the past, when speaking and writing were usually seen as equally important.

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Old School vs. New Tech: How We Learn Soft Skills

Traditional ways of improving soft skills often involve:

• In-person workshops

• Practice role-playing with coworkers

• Mentoring programs

• Studying real-life examples

These methods are helpful but can be limited. They often focus on theory and contrived scenarios, which might not feel very real. AI-enabled approaches, on the other hand, use emerging tech that allows for:

• Learning paths that adapt to you

• Instant feedback as you practice

• Virtual and augmented reality for lifelike practice

• Smart language analysis to improve your communication

AI-enabled training has some big advantages:

• It can reach more people easily

• It's not biased like humans can be

• You can practice anytime, anywhere

• It uses data to track progress and find areas where lots of people need help

Of course, there are still some challenges. We need to find the right balance between tech and human interaction.

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The Benefits of AI-Enabled Training

Studies show that people are three times more engaged with AI-enabled training compared to traditional methods (Lares). This increased engagement means users are more likely to stick with their training and improve their skills.

AI excels at identifying skill gaps and personalized learning needs. It can quickly analyze data from training sessions to spot areas where employees need extra help, allowing for more targeted and efficient skill development.

But don't worry – AI isn't here to replace human teachers and coaches. Instead, it works alongside them to create an even better learning experience. You get the best of both worlds: high-tech practice tools and human wisdom and support. Let's look at how one company, Colleva, is putting these benefits into action.

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Colleva: AI-Enabled Soft Skills Training in Action

Colleva's innovative platform brings to life the key benefits of AI in professional development:

• Personalization and Engagement: Just as AI can create tailored learning paths, Colleva offers customizable scenarios that fit each company's unique culture and needs. Their interactive experiences keep users motivated and involved, demonstrating how AI can boost engagement in training.

• Safe Practice and Continuous Learning: Colleva creates risk-free, interactive scenarios that simulate real-world situations. This safe environment, combined with opportunities for regular practice and follow-up scenarios, supports the kind of continuous learning that AI enables.

• Objective Evaluation and Real-Time Feedback: Leveraging AI's ability to provide unbiased, instant feedback, Colleva offers real-time analysis on both the content and delivery of communication in training scenarios. This immediate, objective feedback helps users improve rapidly.

• Efficient Skill Gap Identification: Just as AI excels at pinpointing areas for improvement, Colleva's platform helps organizations quickly identify where employees need to develop their skills.

• Scalability: Reflecting AI's ability to reach more people easily, Colleva's platform supports organizations of various sizes, from small teams to large corporations.

By combining these features, Colleva effectively bridges the gap between traditional training methods and cutting-edge AI capabilities. It's a prime example of how AI-enabled platforms can transform soft skills development, preparing workforces for today's AI-enhanced professional landscape while maintaining the crucial human elements of skill development.

Ready to take your team's soft skills to the next level? Don't let your organization fall behind in the AI-driven workplace. Explore how Colleva's AI-enabled platform can revolutionize your professional development strategy. Schedule a demo or start a free trial today.

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References

Betts, Ben. "Bridge the Soft Skills Gap with AI-Powered Technology." Training Industry, 17 Nov. 2023. https://trainingindustry.com/articles/learning-technologies/bridge-the-soft-skills-gap-with-ai-powered-technology/  

Cardon, Peter. "New Study Finds AI Makes Employers Value Soft Skills More." Fast Company, 1 Jan. 2024. https://www.fastcompany.com/91012874/new-study-finds-ai-makes-employers-value-soft-skills-more  

Dwivedi, Yogesh K., et al. "Artificial Intelligence (AI): Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Emerging Challenges, Opportunities, and Agenda for Research, Practice and Policy." International Journal of Information Management, vol. 57, Apr. 2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S026840121930917X  

Lares, Andres. "The AI Advantage in Soft Skills Training." Training Industry, 28 Apr. 2023. https://trainingindustry.com/articles/content-development/the-ai-advantage-in-soft-skills-training/  

Shah, Nick, et al. "The Human Advantage: Why Soft Skills Are Crucial in the Age of AI." HR Daily Advisor, 21 May 2024. https://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com/2024/05/21/the-human-advantage-why-soft-skills-are-crucial-in-the-age-of-ai/  

Tomayo, Jorge, et al. "Reskilling in the Age of AI." Harvard Business Review, Sept.-Oct. 2023. https://hbr.org/2023/09/reskilling-in-the-age-of-ai

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