Experts in adult education still cannot agree on whether or not e-learning can help companies develop their employees' soft skills. While some do not acknowledge the importance of e-learning for soft skills development at all, others are convinced that it is not possible today to develop their employees skills without modern technology. The truth is probably somewhere in between - the use of e-learning with the occasional support of in-person training. At least, that is according to an article on this subject published on clomedia.com. The author approached several academics and suppliers of educational programs for companies.
The experts agreed that e-learning is certainly not a panacea and that companies cannot blindly rely on it in the case of employee soft skills development. E-learning can be very effective e.g., for developing presentation skills when employees can watch videos of experienced speakers. Even here, however, such self-learning should be supplemented with a live lecturer who can alert employees to their mistakes. Having face-to-face communication is indispensable, too.
Tailor-made e-learning is the most effective
Furthermore, experts say e-learning is not suitable for companies that are pressed for time and need to train employees to master particular soft skills as soon as possible. In such cases, they should look to in-person training immediately. Also, skills i.e., leadership is such a difficult skill that it cannot be learned by sitting at a computer for a few minutes, even for a few minutes a day.
If e-learning is to be useful in the development of soft skills, it must be prepared to suit specific employees' needs, strengths and weaknesses. Here, however, we are just entering the stage of employee development which comes only after a company invests in revealing its employees' potential and prepares specific individual development programs for them. And even in this case, it cannot be done without in-person training, at least in the initial and final phases of training.
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