Measuring the ROI of Soft Skills Training
Measuring the Return on Investment of any soft skills training programme is notoriously tricky. By their very nature, the skills learnt are not mechanically applicable or easy to objectively observe, they often rely on intangible qualities such as a sharpened instinct or a heightened ability to communicate effectively.
These skills are frequently termed ‘people skills’; and people are not formulaic. Not all trainees begin from the same starting point; every individual has different obstacles to overcome when broadening their soft skills palate.
The positive impact of soft skills training sometimes does not emerge until some time after the course, relying on that ‘penny drop’ moment to occur for the trainee, when suddenly it all makes sense in practice in the workplace.
These facts, make calculating ROI troublesome, but it can be done.
We evaluate the ROI of our training courses in the following ways:
1. Benchmarking – we set out clear learning expectations at the outset, the success of the training can be measured against these.
2. We run a post training survey, based on the Kirkpatrick model of training evaluation.
Participants evaluate the training according to their enjoyment, skills acquired, behavioural change and impact on business results.
The results of this feedback are then delivered to the client.
3. The final section of any Opposite Leg training course is a ‘bridging’ session when participants are asked to define how they are going to apply the skills learnt in their daily work, and what benefits are likely to follow as a result.
Our soft skills training courses have an enormous positive impact on any company, enhancing the organisational intelligence and level of expertise; and enabling businesses to flourish.
