The 30 talents that every psychologist should possess

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

Although some experts assure that talents are innate and differentiate them from the concept of competence, others speak indistinctly about talents and competencies, assuming they are skills that can be learned and that are necessary for the good professional performance of a job or homework. In this article we review those skills or talents that a psychologist must possess for the proper 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 Work and Organizational Psychology.

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

Talents needed to be a good psychologist

Psychologists are professionals who can work in different areas of application: clinical, educational psychology, organizations, etc. However, all these career opportunities depend on certain skills that are shared requirements between them. The Europsy states that there are a number of talents or competencies that all psychologists should possess (both freelancers and those who work for an organization). They are as follows:

Primary talents

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

Specification of objectives

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

1. Necessities analysis

Use of appropriate methods to obtain the information according to customer needs.

2. Goal setting

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 assessment

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

4. Group assessment

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

5. Organizational assessment

Specific assessment 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 that they can be used by psychologists or by clients themselves.

7. Definition of services or products and requirements analysis

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 strengths and limitations of the client.

9. Test of the service or product designed

Know how to evaluate the 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 product utilization and customer satisfaction regarding the product or service offered.

Intervention

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

11. Planning the intervention

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

12. Direct person-oriented intervention

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

13. Direct, situation-oriented intervention

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

14. Indirect intervention

The capacity of carry out interventional 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 the interventions based on the fulfillment of the objectives proposed for said intervention.

16. Valuation planning

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

17. Valuation measure

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

18. Valuation analysis

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

Communication

Clients must receive the necessary information in an adequate way 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 audiovisual means

20. Preparation of reports

Psychologists must report as part of your job, and therefore it is necessary to master this competition.

Enabling competencies

These competences are related to professional activity in general. Through them, independent professional psychologists demonstrate the primary competencies, but 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 one's professional situation, using reflection to understand the professional situation in which one finds oneself and the competencies one possesses.

22. Continuing professional development

A good professional must continue their training throughout life. In this way, you will be able to update and develop the different skills necessary for the correct exercise of the profession.

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23. Professional relationships

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. Investigation and development

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

25. Marketing and sales

It is 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, control and observe their needs and their satisfaction, as well as recognize opportunities for deal.

27. Practice management

Are the operational aspects, both economic and of 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 possess a good critical thinking ability. Indispensable to carry out your work in the best possible way.

Other competencies

Psychologists, in addition to the aforementioned competencies, must carry out ethical behavior.

30. Be ethical

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

• You can know more about how to be a good psychologist, in our article: "10 essential characteristics of a good psychologist”