Despite well-intentioned leadership development programs or for that matter any other behavior or skill development training where coginitive skill or any kind of language skill is at the core, the impact of such training often falls short. Because, for participants it is the problem of opportunity to apply such skills immediately after the training and receive a real time feedback.
For example, consider a leader trained in performance appraisal discussions. During the training session he learnt the theory and best practices, engage in role-play, and return to work feeling confident.
Months later, when the time comes for an actual appraisal conversation he struggle to recall the training and lack of instant coach or mentor support (because getting a people resource anytime and everytime is difficult to get) , leading to a disastrous outcome and losing a high-performer to a competitor.
So where was the gap? The program was good, intent was right but even then the desired outcome has not come.
This hypothetical scenario highlights the gap: The lack of practice opportunities and real-time mentorship.
Here comes the role of Conversational AI.
What is conversational AI:
It refers to the use of artificial intelligence to simulate human-like interactions, providing real-time responses and engaging users in meaningful dialogue.
So conversational AI can bridge the gap to a large extent in leadership training by providing a virtual coach available 24/7 to your participants, allowing them to rehearse conversations, receive instant feedback, and refine their skills precisely "when needed".
By practicing with an AI tool tailored to the persona of their team member, leaders can better prepare in the moment of need (because normally Adults learn when they need it the most) for critical interactions, reducing the risk of costly mistakes.
However, before adopting Conversational AI, it's essential to consider the investment of time, resources, and energy to ensure it aligns with your organizational context.
Explore such use cases and engage with such edtech vendors offering Conversational AI solutions or inhouse development (if you have internal resources to develop) of such tool to bridge the gap in leadership development training effectively.