What are the best tools and resources for soft skills training and assessment?

Be picky about what online courses you use. Most of these courses are no more than digital references and resources. Look for courses that actually create a learning environment. We know that "telling isn't training," and most of these courses are just information transfer and do very little skill building.

For effective soft skills training and assessment, consider online courses as a valuable resource. Platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and edX offer a plethora of courses that cover communication, emotional intelligence, leadership, and more. These courses not only provide valuable content but also often include assessments and certification to measure and enhance your soft skills, making them an ideal choice for comprehensive self-improvement.

A few cool tools that have proven to be incredibly impactful: ? Talespin, a virtual and augmented reality platform that provides simulations for soft skills training, such as leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence. The platform uses AI-powered virtual humans and scenarios to create immersive learning experiences that allow users to practice and develop their soft skills in a safe and engaging environment. ? Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that offers interactive quizzes, surveys, and challenges to enhance soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. The platform is designed to be engaging and fun, using gamification to motivate learners to participate and learn.

Simulations and games are fun. They find power when they are well-facilitated for learning and development. We can have a great experience and walk away with little meaning. Find simulations that are created for skill development, and that can be facilitated by a gifted trainer.

I choose to echo the effectiveness of facilitated simulation training. Talespin requires a significant up front investment as well as staff to curate scenarios. Unless your company is hyper invested in the bleeding edge of tech, this suggestion proves ineffective. Kahoot does a good job of gamifying material, but to what end? It's a great tool for knowledge assessment in a playful, competitive way and that is about it. The advancement of technology seems to draw some back to pedagogy, but effective facilitation supports adult learners looking to develop skills.

Feedback - YES! Well-delivered and timely feedback is essential for directed growth and development. Assessments - Assessments without follow-up coaching are next to worthless. They can provide self-awareness but are difficult to turn into development without a skilled thought partner.

Assessment and feedback are the compass and map on your journey to mastering soft skills. They illuminate your strengths and reveal areas for growth, guiding you toward becoming a more effective communicator, collaborator, and leader. Embrace assessment as a mirror reflecting your progress, and feedback as the guiding star to refine your soft skills further.

My go-to place for mentoring and coaching has to be ADPList! Even though the initial focus of the platform was on design and creative professionals, they have grown incredibly. Now ADPList connects mentees with experienced professionals in various fields, including soft skills such as communication, leadership, and emotional intelligence. I highly recommend it you give it a try, as the platform is built with mentorship in mind, and that is not just an add-on feature.

Having viewed ADPList mentioned as a coaching tool, I chose to give it a view. Unless it is a specific industry specifically listed, I disagree with the other comments on the value of this resource. This is to say that coaching and mentoring is an extremely valuable tool to assess skill development. In my experience, mid and upper levels of management have benefited from a mentor or coach. A bi-weekly commitment to hear an employee's desire to grow a skill set over a coffee break or an hour long virtual meeting where one can walk away with greater awareness and action items can remarkably shape growth in the short and long-term.

Coaching and mentoring, deeply rooted in Indian culture, play pivotal roles in personal and professional development. They provide invaluable guidance, nurture individual potential, and foster a spirit of continuous growth, aligning perfectly with the importance of soft skills in India's diverse work landscape.

Community is critical when seeking out opportunities. And it's even more important for those of us from historically excluded communities. According to Hue's State of Inequity Report, 85% of people want a sense of community and connection at work. But 1 in 2 BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) report they need a better professional network to help them land the opportunities they want.

According to my experience one of the best ways to acquire and develop soft skills is through experience: - To individuals, some volunteer work boosts these skills to another level, moreover, if it is related to their own hobbies and personal proficiencies. - To employees, every community activity or event promoted by the employer is an opportunity to practice and develop soft skills, giving to these employees all these strategic responsibilities to represent the company and to produce a great positive impact in the surrounding communities, will permanently improve their soft skills.

Find your people! Observe people around you who are doing what you like - or acting like you would like. Ask them if they are willing to chat more with you about how they got there and then see what communities they are involved with, seeing if there is an opportunity for you to learn and grow.

To build a network in this field, engage with online communities like LinkedIn groups, softskills, and attend industry-specific conferences and webinars. Building connections and staying updated on trends will enhance your soft skills journey.

I would like to go old school and dust off the Transferable skills checklist. With all the technology and expensive assessments, this is still one of the most effective tools for personal growth and development is self-assessment, which enables individuals to identify and leverage their transferable skills. A basic transferable skills checklist acts as a compass, guiding individuals toward new opportunities, enhancing their adaptability, and fostering continuous improvement, regardless of their current job, industry, or career level. Transferable skills provide a solid foundation for professional reinvention, enabling individuals to confidently pivot their careers and explore new avenues for success.

A tool that I've always found effective is an Individual Development Plan. Templates can be found online to get started and it requires zero startup cost to implement. Initially, such plans may be unfamiliar to both employee and supervisor. Through consistent application and conversation, development opportunities can be identified. Having the employee be the director of their own skill growth is crucial for adoption. Over time, supervisors can add their perspective and resources. Eventually, the initial plan can be acknowledged as complete once the skill is demonstrated consistently and a new goals or a new plan can be initiated.