New data: Difficult workplace conversations and AI Virtual Role-play trainers

Key takeaways

• 72% of employees would welcome training on handling difficult workplace conversations, rising to 87% for Gen Z.
• 75% have felt anxious about a difficult conversation at work – 33% within the last six months.
• Employees are evenly split on how they'd like to practice: 38% prefer role-play with a manager and 38% an AI virtual role-play trainer.
• 53% believe AI simulation training can provide a psychologically safe place to practice interpersonal skills.
• 57% agree AI will help them train to be better at their job, rising to 71% for Gen Z.

Large majority of employees seek training for handling difficult conversations

• 72% of employees would welcome training on how to handle difficult conversations in the workplace, rising to 87% for Gen Z.
• 75% said they had experienced anxiety due to difficult workplace conversations with 33% as recently as the last six months. This is even more stark for Gen Z and Millennials at 39% and 38% respectively.

Interestingly, when asked if they would prefer role-play training from their manager or an AI Virtual role-play trainer, employees were evenly split at 38% each way. Furthermore, almost a quarter of respondents - 24% - expressed no preference between the two.

When asked specifically about “difficult conversations” in the workplace, the survey responses were similarly weighted, 39% would prefer to practice handling difficult conversations with an AI Virtual
Role-Play Trainer, 41% would prefer a manager with 21% stating that they don’t mind which.

When asked if they believe AI simulation training can provide a psychologically safe place to learn and practice interpersonal skills, 53% said yes, 20%, said no, and 27% were unsure.

When asked to what extent they would “welcome AI training that could help you improve your human skills,” for individuals who use AI very often and fairly often, 78% and 67% respectively
responded that they would welcome AI training.

When asked to rate which skills they rank as most important in the next three years as AI becomes more prominent, empathy, social skills, and emotional intelligence came out on top.

Younger workers more eager for training in difficult conversations

Younger workers are more eager for training in difficult conversations at 87% for Gen Z (304 respondents), 76% for Millennials (892 respondents) vs. 67% for Gen X (664 respondents), and 54% for Baby Boomers (279 respondents). Younger workers are also more inclined to prefer an AI virtual role-play trainer to practice difficult conversations at 42% for Gen Z and 44% for Millennials, down to 35% for Gen X and 29% for Baby Boomers.

Anxiety in the Workplace

A significant number, 75% of respondents, reported feeling anxiety in handling difficult workplace conversations, with 63% having experienced this in the last two years, 12% over two years ago, and 26% reporting to have never experienced it. 33% said they have experienced anxiety due to difficult conversations in the workplace as recently as the last 6 months. This is even more stark for Gen Z and Millennials at 39% and 38% respectively.

Confidence in AI

When asked, “To what extent do you agree or disagree that AI will help you train to be better at your job,” 57% agreed or strongly agreed that AI will help them to train to be better at their job, rising to 71% for Gen Z and 65% for Millennials. 50% of Gen X agreed or strongly agreed, decreasing to 35% of Baby Boomer respondents.

The survey data also shows a strong correlation between those who use AI often and a belief that AI will help them train to be better at their jobs. 96% of those who use AI very often and 80% of those who use it fairly often think AI will help them train to be better. Conversely, 40% and 20% of those who rarely use it or never use it don’t think it will help.

Future of productivity and human skills

When asked about the balance between AI and human productivity in the future (next three years), 58% believe AI and human productivity will be balanced, with 22% believing it will be more human-centric and 20% stating more AI-centric.

However, a majority of 53% of those surveyed said they would welcome AI training to improve their human skills. That number increases for the younger generations, with Gen Z and Millennials most open to welcoming AI training at 57%, Gen X at 49%, and Baby Boomers at 44%.

Concerns about AI

That doesn’t mean, however, that employees are fearless about AI taking part of their jobs: 10% are extremely concerned, 24% fairly concerned, 15% not sure, 26% not very concerned, and 25% not at all concerned. This is more starkly felt for Gen Z at 42%, 38% for Millennials, 30% for Gen X and 22% for Baby Boomers. Interestingly, the more people use AI, the more concerned they are about it taking part or all of their jobs. 48% and 29% of those who use it very often or fairly often are concerned, vs 23% of those who rarely use it and 14% who say they never use it.

Correlation between AI use and training confidence

Personal and professional exposure to AI tools correlates with both increased optimism about the potential benefits of AI and anxiety about AI replacing human workers. The more a respondent uses AI in daily practice, the more worried they are that AI will eventually replace some or all of their job. Yet, even as these respondents worry about being replaced, they see promise in using AI to improve their job performance.

Question and Answer data breakdown

Q: Using a scale from 1-5 where 1 = not at all concerned and 5 = extremely concerned, how concerned are you that AI might replace your job in the future? A) Some of your job B) All of your job.