Can “Soft Skills” Training Be Performance-Based?
Building Measurement into Soft Skills Programs Organizations are investing in building their human capital by developing programs intended to improve the skills of managers and leaders. Most of these programs focus on what is typically called soft skills trainingincluding topics like communication, conflict management, coaching, and problem solving. The focus of these programs is generally on subject matter content, rather than on skills development. By changing the focus from content to job performance, it is possible to make these programs more relevant, and ensure that every participant leaves the training with the skills to apply what he or she has learned back on the job. Analysis is the Key The first step in making soft skills training performance-based is to understand the job performance expectations and how those expectations relate to the business goals and strategies. When we work with clients, we begin by interviewing senior executives and other important stakeholders to re
