The 30 talents (or competencies) that every psychologist should possess.

A series of essential skills for psychology careers.

Those who are familiar with organizational psychology or human resources will have heard of talent management in companies, which detects the competencies that workers possess in order to match their full potential with the needs of the company. those competencies that workers possess in order to match their full potential with the needs of the organization..

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

• To know more: "How to face a competency-based interview: 4 keys to get the job".

The competencies 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 the EuroPsy certificates, which facilitate labor mobility within this area.. There are three certificates: EuroPsy Basic, EuroPsy Specialist in Psychotherapy and EuroPsy Specialist in Work and Organizational Psychology.

EFTA, through the portal Europsy, defines the core competencies or talents that psychologists must develop and demonstrate before they can practice as professionals. before they can practice as professionals. Talents fit with the roles psychologists play 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 various fields of application: clinical psychology, educational psychology, organizations, etc. However, all these professional outlets depend on certain skills that are shared requirements among them. Europsy states that there are a number of talents or competencies that all psychologists should possess (both independent and those working for an organization). These are as follows:

Primary talents.

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

Specification of objectives

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

Needs analysis

Use of appropriate methods to obtain information according to the client's needs. according to the client's needs.

2. Establishment of objectives

Ability to negotiate and set goals with the client. with the client. These goals must be achievable and attainable.

Evaluation

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

3. Individual assessment

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

4. Group assessment

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

5. Organizational Assessment

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

6. Situational assessment

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

Development

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

7. Service or product definition and requirements analysis

Having the ability to know what product and service to offer and identify and analyze interested clients.

8. Service or product design

Once the product or service has been defined, it is necessary to the strengths and limitations of the customer..

9. Testing the designed service or product

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

10. Service or product evaluation

Ability to evaluate product usage and customer satisfaction with the product or service offered. with respect to the product or service offered.

Intervention

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

11. Intervention planning

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

12. Direct person-oriented intervention

Carrying out the intervention and its methods directly on a person or group of persons.

13. Situation-oriented direct intervention

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

14. Indirect intervention

The ability to to carry out interventional techniques that help individuals or groups to make decisions on their own and for a specific interest. and for a specific interest.

15. Implementation of products or services

Promote services or products and encourage their proper use by clients or other psychologists.

Assessment

To be able to evaluate and adapt the interventions according to the fulfillment of the objectives proposed for the proposed for such intervention.

16. Planning the assessment

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

17. Measuring the assessment

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

18. Analysis of the assessment

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

Communication

Customers should receive the necessary information in an adequate manner so that their needs and expectations are met.

19. Provide feedback

Feedback is key when offering services or products related to psychology, whether by oral or audiovisual means.whether by oral or audiovisual means.

20. Report writing

Psychologists should report writing as part of their work, and it is therefore necessary to master this competency.It is therefore necessary to master this competency.

Enabling competencies

These competencies relate to professional activity in general. Through these competencies, independent professional psychologists demonstrate the primary competencies, but they are are exclusive to those professionals who choose to perform their work independently..

21. Professional strategy

This is the ability to choose the best strategy for managing and planning one's own professional situation.using reflection to understand the professional situation in which one finds oneself and the competencies one possesses.

22. Continuous professional development

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

24. Research and development

For the development of new services and products that meet customer needs and generate new needs 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 acquire new customers or inform potential customers.

26. Professional responsibility management

Proper professional responsibility management includes: establishing relationships with clients, monitoring and observing client needs and satisfaction, and recognizing business opportunities.

27. Practice management

These are the operational aspects of both economic and people management.The operational, economic and people management aspects of designing and managing a psychology business.

28. Quality assurance

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

29. Self-reflection

A psychologist must possess good critical thinking skills. Indispensable to carry out his work in the best possible way.

Other competencies

Psychologists, in addition to the competencies mentioned above, must also behave ethically.

30. To be ethical

For good professional practice, it is the psychologist's responsibility to to respect the dignity of his or her patients and to protect their fundamental rights.. And psychology must be used responsibly in all contexts.

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