Corporate Training solution

Soft skills training that fosters empathy

The technical ins and outs of your organization are “hard” skills. They represent the skills learners require to do their jobs correctly and efficiently. “Soft” skills, on the other hand, make up the qualities that contribute to success on an emotional level. From effective communication to emotional intelligence and leadership, soft skills encourage employees to think holistically about their roles.

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Why soft skills training?

Soft skills are often traits and abilities we think of as natural talents. When compared to technical and compliance training, it’s harder to check the boxes associated with communication skills, sales acumen, and listening abilities. Still, soft skills are just as vital to employee success as nitty gritty technical details. In fact, ELM Learning believes that soft skills training creates the foundation for more effective learning overall.

Our process

Our soft skills training courses typically follow a three-pronged approach that helps tackle some of the most common barriers to soft skills learning: context, practice, and continued coaching. 

Soft skills training should always appeal to learners’ hearts and minds before they experience the content. By highlighting what’s in it for them and how your training can benefit their day-to-day interactions, ELM creates a healthy, inviting learning ecosystem. 

Relevant learning scenarios are used to give learners a safe space to practice, fail, and succeed before bringing their newly acquired soft skills into their real-life relationships. Learners are able to see themselves in the content and experience real-time feedback, giving them the confidence to bring their improved soft skills to the workplace. 

Continuous feedback means soft skills training is a perpetual experience. Person-to-person coaching creates accountability for those who have undergone the training. Even if it’s just a quick check-in on how an employee did in a certain situation, listening in on a phone call, or observing an interaction, consistent, timely feedback is the important secret sauce to this highly important piece of ELM’s soft skills approach.

Our approach to soft skills training

  • If you want employees to really learn and hone soft skills (or any skills) it’ll never be a one-time learning experience. When your organization is dedicated to developing soft skills in its workforce, the mindset must revolve around continuous practice and the drive to be better every single day. Never perfect, but always improved, soft skills training should be part of every long-term talent management strategy.

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FAQs

  • Hard skills are technical skills that are typically job-specific, such as:

    • Computer programming
    • Writing
    • Machinery operation
    • Experience with particular software applications
    • Experience with specific processes, procedures, methods, or techniques 

    We commonly refer to soft skills as “interpersonal skills,” “people skills,” or “social skills.” That’s because they have to do with the way we relate with colleagues and leaders at work. They’re behavioral and experience-based. They’re also relevant across job functions and roles.

Case studies

Check out how we’ve taken inspired ideas and transformed them into workable realities for our clients.

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Sony Music ILT Conversion

Sony was spending a lot of their training budget on logistics. From taking time off work to paying for travel, it was clear that their typical live instructor-led training wasn’t the most efficient use of funds. ELM helped Sony convert their robust training program into a video-based approach without losing out on the emotional connection and social interaction of more traditional methods.

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From the Learning Lab