Methodology
Measure. Train. Measure again.
Only an assessment changes a level. Practice between assessments builds the skill and does not move the level.
Built on research: 130+ interviews with HR and L&D leaders.DOI10.5281/zenodo.21791000
1
An assessment sets the level.
Each person talks by voice to an AI character in a situation from real work. The result is a level for each competency.
- One scenario and one scale for the whole team
- Each level has evidence from the conversation
- Ten minutes for each person
LearningPrograms
ResultsAnalyticsConversations
OBOlena BondarDevPro
Analytics
Active listening
Active listening
Train
Developing
measured 30 August · 2 anchors
trained in 3 programs
IndicatorsJourney
Seven indicators
3 demonstrated · 2 formally · 2 not
Reflects the counterpart's position in their own words
1 of 3 · 7 of 9
Formally
Asks clarifying questions about the cause
2 of 2 · 9 of 11
Demonstrated
Lets them finish, does not interrupt
4 of 4 · 12 of 12
Demonstrated
Checks whether they understood correctly
0 of 1 · 2 of 4
Not demonstrated
Holds the pause after an answer
1 of 2 · 3 of 7
Formally
Does not judge what was said immediately
3 of 3 · 8 of 10
Demonstrated
Brings the conversation back on track
0 of 2 · 1 of 5
Not demonstrated
Numbers: anchor · development opportunities. State comes from anchor ones only.
Reflects the counterpart's position in their own words
1 of 3 in assessment
7 of 9 in development
The denominator is the opportunities the scenario gave, not your attempts: the scene created the moment three times.
Evidence from assessment
Show 1 more anchor and 7 development items
Assessment
The Overpromise · 30 August
Formally
“I understand your word in front of the client is critical to you”
Whenturn 6 of 14 - early, pressure not yet peaking
PressureTense - Naomi had already gone defensive
ConsequenceYou moved straight to a counter-argument. Naomi never got to confirm and repeated the same point two turns later.
Assessment
The Overpromise · 30 August
Not demonstrated
The moment was there - you did not use it.
Whenturn 12 of 14 - Naomi stated his condition a second time
PressureShutting down - the highest pressure of the conversation
ConsequenceYou moved to “let's not do this again” with no summary. The costliest missed moment.
2
Practice builds the skill.
Between assessments, people train on development simulations. Each run ends with one next step.
- Practice never moves the level
- Each run adds evidence
- The next step is one concrete action
LearningPrograms
ResultsAnalyticsConversations
OBOlena BondarDevPro
Analytics
Active listening
Active listening
Train
Developing
measured 30 August · 2 anchors
trained in 3 programs
IndicatorsJourney
Where the level came from: two anchors set its bounds, 14 development runs between them gave context but never moved the level.
Anchor · assessment
4 June
Product Dismissing Engineering Feedback
Not demonstrated
Report
ReflectsClarifies causeNo interruptingChecks understanding
Practice
June — August
3 simulations · 14 runs
+2
34 opportunities
Anchor · assessment
30 August
The Overpromise
Developing
Report
ReflectsClarifies causeNo interruptingChecks understanding
Practice
Since 30 August
Daniel ×2, Emma ×1
7 opportunities
What moved the level
“Clarifies cause” went from formally to demonstrated - the only change between anchors, and it is what raised the level a step.
What did not move
“Checks understanding” has no state at either anchor: the scene gave one opportunity. 34 development ones do not compensate - they do not measure.
3
A new assessment shows the change.
Each competency shows the level, the change since the last assessment and the next step.
- One step up, one step down or no change
- The same view for a person and for a team
- One cycle takes 90 days
LearningPrograms
ResultsAnalyticsConversations
OBOlena BondarDevPro
Analytics
Eight competencies across all programs · three anchors · 43 development runs · 53 evidence items
CardsList
Anchor - assessment: moves the level
Practice - development: never moves the level
Order: what needs attention first
Difficult agreements
2 programs
Level not determined
first measure
1
9
5 evidence
Next stepClose with a date and an owner - the indicator has not moved across 9 development runs
Giving feedback
Team management
Developing
one step
2
0
9 evidence
Next stepNo development runs between measures
Active listening
3 programs
Developing
one step
2
14
14 evidence
Next stepReflect their position in their own words - then stop talking
Conflict handling
Team management
Demonstrated formally
no change
2
6
7 evidence
Setting expectations
Team management
Level not determined
first measure
1
2
0 evidence
Next stepThe scene never created the required moment
Delegation
Team management
Confident
one step
2
4
6 evidence
Empathy in contact
Customer service
Confident
no change
2
3
8 evidence
Handling objections
Sales
Demonstrated formally
first measure
1
5
4 evidence
Next stepClarify the objection before answering
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