Early pilots of an AI-powered coaching system demonstrate the power of learning in the flow of work, explains Alice Ivanoff, Co-founder & CEO at Kokoon.
We trained over 200 people through workshops and e-learning modules. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive - 90% satisfaction rates and measurable performance improvements across key soft skills. But within weeks, we watched those carefully developed capabilities simply evaporate.
The harsh reality? Our participants were forgetting 90% of what they'd learned within seven days.
This realisation forced us to completely rethink our strategy. Instead of extracting people from work to learn skills in isolation, we began exploring how to embed development directly into daily workflow.
We developed an AI-powered learning system that provides contextual guidance during actual work situations. Rather than scheduling training sessions, it offers micro-learning moments triggered by real workplace scenarios.
Why traditional training can fail for soft skills
The problem isn't engagement or content quality. Research consistently shows that learners forget an average of 90% of new information within the first week, with 50% lost within the first hour. But this ‘forgetting curve’ hits soft skills particularly hard.
Technical skills can be referenced, documented, and applied systematically. Soft skills require something entirely different:
- Context - Communication skills learned in a classroom don't translate to difficult client conversations
- Practice - Feedback techniques need real workplace scenarios, not role-play exercises
- Timing - Early careers professionals need support when they're overwhelmed with competing priorities, not during scheduled training sessions
Our programme covered seven core areas: time management, prioritisation, resilience, career building, communication, presentation skills, and problem solving. Across all skills, we saw an average 20% performance improvement immediately post-training.
But the decline was stark. Within months, participants were struggling with the same challenges that brought them to training initially. The skills needed daily practice, but when stress hit or systems failed, training felt like a luxury they couldn't afford.
The gap between learning and application
Our workshop participants told us the same story repeatedly: "The training was brilliant, but when I'm actually dealing with a frustrated colleague, I can't remember what we discussed."
This highlighted a fundamental flaw in traditional workplace learning - it happens outside the moments when skills are actually needed. We were asking people to store complex interpersonal skills in memory, then retrieve and apply them weeks later under pressure.
Real examples from our programme:
- A sales associate excelling in his role who, when behind target, couldn't prioritise as "everything felt like a house on fire"
- Marketing associates completing daily tasks but missing the connection to big-picture, needle-moving activities
- A sales executive facing probation who needed targeted support, not generic e-learning
- An operations associate struggling to understand manager expectations and communicate progress effectively
The pattern was clear: skills learned in isolation crumbled under real workplace pressure.
Learning in the flow of work
Kokoon helps entry level talent build the tools they need to succeed at work, right inside Slack. It enables practical soft skill training, delivered in the flow of work - powered by AI.
How the AI-powered coaching system works:
- Assessment - We evaluate where individuals are across different soft skills
- Personalisation - Custom learning plans built for each person's specific needs and role
- Integration - Weekly skill-building delivered through Slack nudges, combining theory with direct practice
- Context - Exercises based on real workplace situations participants are actually facing
This approach addresses the fundamental problem: people don't need more training content, they need support applying skills to their specific challenges.
In practice
Early pilots with SMBs across the UK have shown promising results by eliminating the gap between learning and application. Skills develop through practice in authentic situations, with immediate feedback and reinforcement.
The response from our pilot customers has been consistently positive, though with important caveats.
Early feedback from our current beta testing reveals three primary motivations for employers:
Chelsea Coates, Chief People Officer at GWI said, “We've always known that one-size-fits-all training doesn't work - a graduate struggling with time management needs different support than someone who's confident with prioritisation but weak on stakeholder communication. But creating smart, personalised learning plans at scale has been impossible with traditional training approaches. We'd either have to run dozens of different programmes or accept that most people get irrelevant content.”
The potential of the approach is explained by David Johnson, Head of UK at Maddyness, "I saw a real improvement in her confidence and proactivity and desire to take the lead in a wide range of scenarios. As a result she is taking on more complex roles, thinking more long term and teaching me a few things too!”
Fiona, VP Marketing at Stagwell Global added, "Since enrolling in Kokoon's training, our junior team members have grown in confidence, accountability, and initiative. The course has empowered them to excel in their roles and embrace new challenges."
There are benefits and challenges emerging as the technology is adopted.
Benefits
- Relief at support that doesn't require additional manager time
- Interest in scalable development for remote/hybrid teams
- Appreciation for just-in-time learning rather than scheduled programmes
Challenges
- Engagement - The perennial L&D challenge of keeping people interested and committed over time
- Measurement - Demonstrating tangible progress and ROI in soft skills development
- Sustained behaviour change - Moving beyond initial enthusiasm to genuine habit formation
Our key learning is that people need to see their progress clearly. Showing participants what they've learned and how far they've come proves crucial for maintaining momentum.
Looking forward
What we're seeing suggests a fundamental shift in workplace learning. The future isn't about better training events - it's about making development continuous and contextual.
This approach complements rather than replaces human managers and formal programmes. The goal is filling the crucial gap between learning and application - ensuring that when graduates face challenging workplace situations, they have support available in that moment.
For early careers professionals especially, this addresses a critical need. They're transitioning from structured educational environments to complex workplace realities, often without the safety net of constant supervision or formal mentoring.
What this means for the industry:
- Moving from event-based to embedded learning
- Personalising development to individual contexts and challenges
- Measuring success through applied skills rather than completion rates
This shift from event-based to embedded learning represents a fundamental change in how we approach professional development. Rather than extracting people from work to learn skills separately, we're integrating development into the fabric of daily work life.
What this means for the industry:
- Moving from generic programmes to personalised development pathways
- Measuring success through applied behaviour change rather than completion rates
- Supporting the transition from structured education to independent professional practice
- Making ongoing development sustainable without overwhelming managers or budgets
We're currently expanding our beta programme with more customers helping us refine the approach. The feedback loop is proving invaluable and we're adding new skills based on what employers tell us they need most, with resilience training emerging as a top priority.
For employers interested in this approach, we're actively seeking design partners to help shape the product. This is an opportunity to influence development and work closely with us. If you’re interested contact alice@wearekokoon.com