In the midst of the fourth industrial revolution, the transversal skills of people who apply to obtain a good job have become an essential component for professional success. In addition to the work context, these skills focus on a person’s ability to adapt and solve various situations in different circumstances.
In this PsychologyFor article we will talk about the transversal competencies: what they are, importance and what they are.
What are transversal skills?
Transversal skills are a set of skills, knowledge and attitudes that go beyond the development of the work task itself. These skills are essential in personal, academic and social contexts, as they allow people to adapt, communicate and be more excellent in a wide range of situations.
Therefore, transversal competencies are skills that can be applied in various environments and tasks They are often considered high-level skills that complement technical and career- or industry-specific skills and are broken down into areas such as interpersonal, intrapersonal, or task development.
What are transversal skills for?
These skills are essential in today’s world of work, where interdisciplinary collaboration and adaptation to constant changes are the order of the day because enable people to be more effective and can work in diverse teams, facing difficulties and continuously training throughout their careers.
In addition to their importance in the professional field, transversal skills are also of great importance in personal life, as they help people to build positive relationships to make decisions, to resolve conflicts and to manage stress and emotions in a healthy way.
In the following article we explain what personal competencies are and examples.
Importance of transversal skills
Transversal skills are of great importance in our society in any area of ​​our life. Below, we present several reasons that confirm the importance of transversal skills.
- Get a better job: In a highly competitive and constantly evolving labor market, transversal skills have become an essential characteristic to stand out among candidates. Companies look not only for educated and experienced candidates, but also those who can communicate effectively, work as a team, solve problems and adapt to stress and new situations. People who possess transversal skills have an important advantage in the search for employment and in the development of their careers.
- Interdisciplinarity: In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to collaborate with different people is essential. Transversal competencies, such as empathy and communication, facilitate interdisciplinary team collaboration and the construction of positive relationships in work and social environments.
- Adaptation to change: We live in an era of rapid and constant change. Transversal skills allow people to face difficulties and adapt to new circumstances with ease. This ability to adapt is essential both in the workplace and in daily life. In the following article you will find more information about Adaptation to change according to psychology.
- decision making: Transversal competencies help people evaluate options, consider consequences, and make decisions in complex or high-stakes situations. The ability to solve problems and make decisions is very important both at work and in personal life.
- Improvement of interpersonal relationships: Negotiation, emotional intelligence and communication are key competencies for building and maintaining healthy relationships. These skills facilitate conflict resolution and building trust, pillars that are basic in both a work and personal relationship.
- Personal growth: transversal skills not only benefit professional life, but also enrich personal life. They help people understand themselves and others, manage stress and emotions, and improve their overall quality of life.
What are the transversal competencies?
Transversal competencies cover a wide range of skills and qualities that are valuable in any situation that may arise. Below, we present a list of twelve examples of transversal competencies.
- Communication: It is the ability to express ideas clearly to make yourself understood, as well as actively listen to others. Ability to speak with anyone at any level, experts or not in the subject.
- Critical thinking: the ability to analyze information, evaluate arguments, and make decisions based on evidence and reasoning. Willingness to question the ideas of others and your own.
- Problem resolution: the ability to identify problems, seek solutions and take effective measures to face and overcome difficulties that may arise.
- Creativity: the ability to generate innovative ideas and think unconventionally to address problems and seek solutions.
- Teamwork: the ability to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team in order to contribute to the achievement of common objectives and resolve interpersonal conflicts.
- emotional intelligence: the ability to recognize, understand and manage one’s own emotions, as well as those of others.
- Adaptability: the ability to adjust to changes and new situations, while maintaining the level of performance.
- Leadership: the ability to guide, motivate, and influence others in a positive way, even without holding a position of formal authority.
- Planning– The ability to plan, prioritize, and organize tasks efficiently to maximize productivity.
- Ethics: the ability to make decisions considering not only practical implications, but also ethical values ​​and principles.
- Resilience: the ability to overcome adversity and learn from it, stay calm under pressure and continue moving forward.
- Responsibility: Responsibility is a transversal competence that refers to the ability to assume and fulfill obligations, tasks and commitments consciously and effectively. It involves recognizing the importance of fulfilling assigned responsibilities, whether personal, work, academic or social, and taking appropriate measures to carry out those responsibilities in a timely and efficient manner.
This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Transversal competencies: what they are, importance and what they are we recommend that you enter our Social Psychology category.
Bibliography
- Arribas, D. and Pereña, J. (sf) COMPETEA. Competence Assessment https://web.teaediciones.com/COMPETEA.aspx
- GarcÃa, MJ, López, MJT, & Archilla, YB (2010). Development of teaching resources for the evaluation of generic competencies. Revision, 3(2), 5. https://upcommons.upc.edu/bitstream/handle/2099/7902/p204.pdf
- Lucena, FJH, DÃaz, IA, and RodrÃguez, JMR (2020). Human factor in business productivity: an approach from the analysis of transversal competencies. Innovar-journal of Administrative and Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.15446/innovar.v30n76.85194
- Sepúlveda, A., Opazo, M., and DÃaz-Levicoy, D. (2019). Promotion of transversal competences in teacher training: activities and evaluation. http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?pid=S0257-43142019000200013&script=sci_arttext&tlng=pt
- Universia. (2022). The 10 transversal skills most valued by employers. https://www.universia.net/es/actualidad/habilites/10-competencias-transversales-mas-valoradas-emplodores-1139319.html