Those who are familiar with organizational psychology or human resources will have heard about talent management in companies, in which those competencies that workers possess are detected so that their full potential fits with the needs of said 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 performance of a job or task. In this article we review those competencies or talents that a psychologist should possess for the good performance of his/her 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 organisation issues the EuroPsy certificates, which facilitate labour mobility within this space . There are three certificates: EuroPsy Basic, EuroPsy Specialist in Psychotherapy and EuroPsy Specialist in Work and Organisation Psychology.

The EFTA, through the portal Europsy, defines the primary competencies or talents that psychologists must develop and demonstrate before they can practice as professionals. The talents fit with the roles that psychologists play in different occupational contexts, and have to do with knowledge, understanding, practical and ethical skills, and attitude and disposition 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 opportunities depend on certain skills that are shared requirements among them.Europsy states that there are a number of talents or skills that all psychologists should possess (both independent and those working for an organization). They are the following:

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 targets

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

1. Analysis of needs

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

2. Establishment of objectives

Capacity for negotiation and goal setting 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 evaluation

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

4. Group evaluation

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

5. Organizational Assessment

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

6. Situational Assessment

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

Development

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

7. Service or product definition and requirements analysis

Have the ability to know what product and service to offer and identify and analyse interested clients.

8. Service or product design

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

9. Test of the designed service or product

Knowing how to evaluate reliability, validity and other characteristics such as product or service viability

10. Evaluation of the service or product

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

Intervention

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

11. Planning the intervention

Organize and develop the appropriate intervention plan to execute the service required 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

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

14. Indirect intervention

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

15. Implementation of products or services

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

Rating

Be able to assess and adapt the interventions according to the fulfilment of the objectives proposed for that intervention.

16. Valuation planning

To have the ability to design and plan the assessment of the intervention carried out to know if it has been useful.

17. Measurement of valuation

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

18. Valuation analysis

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

Communication

Customers must be provided with the necessary information in an appropriate manner so that their needs and expectations are met.

19. Providing feedback

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

20. Reporting

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

Enabling competencies

These competencies are related to professional activity in general. Through them, independent professional psychologists demonstrate the primary competences, but they are exclusive to 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. Continuous professional development

A good professional must follow his or her training throughout life . In this way, he will be able to update and develop the different competences necessary for the correct exercise of the profession.

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23. Professional relations

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 cover 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 gain new customers or inform potential customers.

26. Management of professional responsibility

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

27. Practice management

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

28. Quality assurance

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

29. Self-reflection

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

Other skills

Psychologists, in addition to the above-mentioned competencies, must conduct themselves ethically.

30. Being Ethical

For good professional practice, it is the psychologist’s responsibility to respect the dignity of his patients and protect their fundamental rights . And a responsible use of psychology should be made in all contexts.

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