The 30 talents (or skills) that every psychologist should have

March 26, 2024

Those people who are familiar with organizational psychology or human resources will have heard about the management of the talent of the companies, in which it is detected those skills that workers have so that their full potential matches the needs of that organization .

Although some experts claim that talents are innate and differentiate them from the concept of competence, others speak indistinctly of talents and competences, assuming they are skills that can be learned and that are necessary for the good professional performance of a job or task. In this article We review those skills or talents that a psychologist must possess for the good performance of their profession .

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The skills and talents of the psychologist, according to Europsy

The European Federation of Psychologists Association (EFPA), is an institution that groups and leads, within the European space, the associations of the different countries of this continent. This organization issues EuroPsy certificates, which facilitate labor mobility within this space . There are three certificates: EuroPsy Basic, EuroPsy Specialist in Psychotherapy and EuroPsy Specialist in Psychology of Work and Organizations.

EFTA, through the Europsy portal, defines the primary competencies or talents that psychologists must develop and demonstrate before being able to practice as professionals. The talents fit with the roles played by psychologists in different occupational contexts, and have to do with knowledge, understanding, practical and ethical skills and attitude and predisposition towards their work.

Talents needed to be a good psychologist

Psychologists are professionals who can work in different fields of application: clinical psychology, education, organizations, etc. However, all these professional outings depend on certain skills that are shared requirements between them. The Europsy states that there are a number of talents or skills that all psychologists must possess (both the independents and those who work for an organization). They are the following:

Primary talents

They are the talents that every psychologist should possess and demonstrate (both independent and non-independent). They are grouped into six groups, depending on the professional roles .

Specification of objectives

Basic competences of the interaction with the client to define the objectives of the service that the psychologist offers.

1. Needs analysis

Use of appropriate methods for obtaining information according to the needs of the client.

2. Setting objectives

Negotiation skills and goal setting with the client. These goals must be achievable and achievable.

Evaluation

Diagnose and know the characteristics of individuals, groups. organizations and situations using the necessary techniques.

3. Individual evaluation

Carry out the diagnosis and evaluation of individuals with questionnaires, interviews and observation techniques.

4. Group evaluation

Carry out the diagnosis and evaluation of groups of people with different methods.

5. Organizational evaluation

Specific evaluation of the organizational environment with the techniques mentioned above.

6. Situational assessment

Use interviews, surveys and other techniques for the correct evaluation of the situation.

Developing

This talent is related to the ability to develop existing psychological services or products so they can be used by psychologists or the clients themselves.

7. Definition of services or products and analysis of requirements

Have the ability to know what product and service to offer and identify and analyze interested customers.

8. Design of the service or product

Once the product or service is defined, it is necessary design it knowing the client's strengths and limitations .

9. Test of the service or product designed

Know how to evaluate reliability, validity and other characteristics such as, for example, the viability of the product or service.

10. Evaluation of the service or product

Capacity of evaluate the use of the product and customer satisfaction regarding the product or service offered.

Intervention

Identify, organize and carry out necessary interventions to achieve the objectives based on the evaluations and planning on the product or service (mentioned in the previous section).

11. Planning of the intervention

Organize and develop the appropriate intervention plan to execute the service required in the specific context.

12. Direct intervention aimed at the person

Carry out the intervention and its methods directly on a person or group of people.

13. Direct intervention oriented to the situation

Be able to carry out these intervention methods directly on the situation, following a concrete intervention plan.

14. Indirect intervention

The capacity of carry out intervention techniques that help individuals or groups make decisions on their own and for a specific interest.

15. Implementation of products or services

Promote services or products and promote their correct use by clients or other psychologists.

Assessment

Be able to assess and adapt interventions based on meeting the objectives proposed for said intervention.

16. Evaluation planning

Have the ability to design and plan the evaluation of the intervention performed to know if it has been useful.

17. Measurement of the valuation

Use the specific and necessary techniques to carry out the evaluation of the intervention.

18. Analysis of the valuation

Once the evaluation data is obtained, it is necessary perform an analysis of this data taking into account the context in which the intervention has been applied.

Communication

Clients should receive the necessary information in an appropriate manner so that their needs and expectations are covered.

19. Provide feedback

Feedback is key when offering services or products related to psychology , either by oral or audio-visual means

20. Reporting

Psychologists must prepare reports as part of your work , and therefore it is necessary to master this competence.

Enabling skills

These competences are related to the professional activity in general. Through them, independent professional psychologists demonstrate primary competencies, but they are exclusive for those professionals who decide to carry out their work independently .

21. Professional strategy

It is the ability to choose the best strategy to manage and plan the professional situation of oneself , using reflection to understand the professional situation in which one finds oneself and the competencies that it possesses.

22. Continuous professional development

A good professional must follow his training throughout life . In this way, you can update and develop the different skills necessary for the proper exercise of the profession.

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23. Professional relations

It is necessary to know how to manage interpersonal relationships at work, that is why it is essential to have social skills adapted to this context.

24. Research and development

For him development of new services and products that meet the needs of the clients and generate new business alternatives.

25. Marketing and sales

Necessary that these new products and services are shared with the target audience in order to get new clients or inform potential clients.

26. Management of professional responsibility

The correct management of professional responsibility includes: establishing relationships with customers, controlling and observing their needs and satisfaction, as well as recognizing business opportunities.

27. Practice management

Are the operational aspects, both economic and people management , to design and manage a psychology company.

28. Quality guarantee

Quality is essential in this profession, that is why it is necessary establish and maintain a quality system .

29. Self-reflection

A psychologist must have a good critical thinking ability . Indispensable to carry out your work in the best possible way.

Other competences

Psychologists, in addition to the mentioned competences, must carry out an ethical behavior.

30. Be ethical

For good professional practice, it is the responsibility of the psychologist respect the dignity of their patients and protect their fundamental rights . And one must make responsible use of psychology in all contexts.