Soft skills are in high demand but can be difficult to teach. That’s why some employers are looking to virtual reality to bridge the gap with tools like Barry, the virtual employee managers can practice firing. Barry and tools like it are simulations that can help leaders practice difficult tasks and navigate delicate situations without real-world consequences. “Where we’re seeing the most opportunity is with soft skills, leadership skills, and diversity and inclusion,” says Elvis Ha, director of product management at Tailspin, the developers of Barry. “These are the most desired skills to develop across all the organizations that we work with. And that carries through to virtual reality.” The number of employers using these tools is growing. The International Data Corporation recently estimated that the VR and AR training industry will grow to 8.5 billion by 2023, and the applications for these technologies is growing. “Barry is really lifelike in terms of his facial expressions, voice, and emotions,” says Ha. “It’s an affecting and empathy-developing experience. Being really immersed and feeling it versus just watching a video or role-playing in a classroom is really special stuff.”