The Future of Soft Skills Simulation: Empowering Individuals and Organizations

Soft skills, such as communication, teamwork and leadership, are becoming increasingly important in the modern workplace. However, traditional methods such as on-the-job training and workshops, can be limited and may not provide enough opportunities for individuals to practice and receive real-time feedback. This is where soft skills simulation comes in.

How I was introduced to InStage….?

One fine afternoon, I received an email from the Canada School of Public Service | école de la fonction publique du Canada with an offer to test a new simulation - so I jumped on it! I enjoy experimenting with technology and I’m keen to improve my interview skills, so it seemed like a match made in heaven.

The registration process was very straightforward. I simply had to input my name, email and select what type of simulation I wanted to participate in. There were various topics to choose from, such as practicing presentation, public speaking, second language, etc. I chose to practice my interview skills for a leadership role.?

What is InStage?

Upon registering for the session, I started digging a little to learn more about the company and their platform. Thanks to my friend 谷歌 , I found a lot of information to begin my research. First I visited their website InStage Practice , and I was fascinated to learn that their simulations have been used by thousands of learners since 2016 and they say that 89% of learners improved their confidence after just one session.

I also discovered a library of over 750 simulations to practice skills like interviewing, presenting, pitching business ideas, learning a new language, or just about any situation where you might want to improve your oral communication skills. Now, I felt truly intrigued and eager to attend the session.?

As I finally signed into the session, I was welcomed by a friendly InStage staff member who explained what to expect during the session (and also added a few words of motivation to get me going). Once the session started, I was greeted by an avatar named Ava. She introduced me to the rest of the panel and the interview began!?

As the interview unfolded, the first question that popped up was, “Tell me about yourself.” I also noticed the guidance on the screen to help curate my answer. My interview included a mix of behavioral and traditional questions based on the skills and competencies relevant for a leadership role in a tech company, and I was asked a total of six questions during this process. I did not chose this format and do not know how InStage comes up with these questions, but they seem quite relevant and similar to what I have been asked in previous real-life interviews.

As the interview went along, I felt more and more confident while speaking to the avatars.

I also noticed that the three-dimensional avatars were nodding and responding to me every time I called their name.

Overall, I had an impeccable experience. What really stood out to me was how realistic the interactions were, and the suggestion pop-ups really helped me to customize my answers based on the question asked.

After the interview concluded, I received a feedback report with real time data . The AI-driven feedback report included metrics such as speaking volume, clarity, speed, use of filler words, etc. which helped me recognize areas to improve and boosted my confidence for the next session.?

Did you know that filler words such as “umm” or “well” allow you to take a second to think about what you're going to say next, but using them too often during speaking can also make it less enjoyable to listeners? I liked how their report also includes metrics on the filler words used during the session, letting you know if you are using them too little or too much.

Using soft skills simulation to empower individuals and organizations

Soft skills simulation is a great way to allow individuals to practice and develop their skills in a safe and controlled environment. The use of simulation technology has been growing rapidly in recent years, and it is poised to become an even more important tool for developing soft skills in the future. Similar to InStage, many organizations are moving towards the use to artificial intelligence and machine learning to revolutionize the way that soft skills simulation is used, providing even more personalized and effective feedback to user.

For organizations, it is a learning revolution that could be very useful in training, providing personalized learning for those who need a bit of practice to brush up their communication skills and to excel in their day-to-day work. Individuals can also practice at their own pace, during their own time.

''Simulation technology is the future of soft skills development, providing individuals with a safe and effective environment to practice and perfect their skills, and organizations with a powerful tool for creating a more skilled and productive workforce.'' - Mark Zuckerberg , CEO of Meta .