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Essential power skills for your team in 2024
June 30, 2023
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In the HR world it is essential to have a clear understanding of the terms skills, competencies and capabilities. These concepts are often used interchangeably, but acknowledging their differences can be the difference between finding or not finding the perfect candidate for each job.
That is why in this article we clarify all your doubts related to these three terms, and explore the importance of distinguishing between them to help your HR professionals build truly successful teams.
Skills and competencies are all those characteristics that allow us to understand if a candidate is suitable to carry out the required tasks of a role. Although the difference between these two terms is very subtle, it is very important to recognize it in order to adequately respond to the needs of an organization before hiring a new employee.
This term refers to a person’s ability to do something correctly and with ease. Skills can be developed through education, vocational training or work experience and can be technical, such as knowing how to handle specialized software, or transferable, such as teamwork.
Competencies, on the other hand, refer to the traits and characteristics of an individual, such as their values or motivations, that allow them to perform effectively in a job. Competency is made up of a combination of technical and socio-emotional skills, as well as theoretical knowledge necessary to fulfill a role.
As you may have seen, skills are more focused on a person’s practical capabilities, while competency encompasses a broader set of knowledge, skills, and behaviors. However, let’s dig deeper into their differences:
When a person is able to perform a task, it means that he has the competence or skill. When they are not yet capable of this, but have the potential to be, it is a capability.
As we said before, the distinction between these two concepts is more subtle. A person with skills is capable of performing a task. While a person who is competent not only performs it but does so considering the importance of the task and finding the most optimal way to achieve it.
Being able to distinguish between skills and competency is very useful for HR departments, especially when selecting talent. This allows them to look for candidates who, in addition to fitting the job, have the ability or potential to learn everything that is needed to perform successfully within the company.
And what else can it help us with?
This distinction can help us to favor the movement of employees between jobs as part of their professional development. In other words, a candidate with the ability to learn what it takes to fill a job is a very valuable asset for any organization.
By understanding the difference between skills and competency, a company can more precisely define the requirements needed for a specific job. They can also evaluate candidates more effectively and set realistic development objectives, which contribute to building solid teams capable of achieving the strategic objectives of the organization.
In other words, the potential that each person has to access a job, develop and continue growing professionally. By assessing both the technical skills and socio-emotional competency of professionals, the HR department can get a much more complete picture of a candidate’s suitability for a specific position and their ability to adapt and succeed in the work environment.
Now that you know the concepts and differences between these terms, it’s time to think about how to develop competencies and skills within your organization to achieve long-term success. Not only will this allow you to increase productivity and improve performance, but at the same time reduce employee turnover, as training and continuous development are invaluable tools for talent retention.
To train your team, a customized, modern and innovative solution is required. isEazy Skills offers you a complete catalog of courses for team training, with interactive and dynamic e-learning content adapted to new digital learning trends. Ready to boost your team’s talent?
Skills and competencies are crucial traits for determining if a candidate is suitable for a job. Skills refer to a person’s ability to perform a task correctly and easily. They can be technical or transferable and are developed through education, vocational training, or work experience. Competencies, on the other hand, include a mix of technical skills, soft skills, and theoretical knowledge that enable an individual to perform their role effectively.
Skills focus on a person’s practical capabilities, while competencies encompass a broader range of knowledge, skills, and behaviors. An ability refers to the potential to perform a task, even if it hasn’t been fully developed yet. Skills, however, indicate the developed ability to carry out a specific task. Competencies go beyond just performing a task; they involve doing it ideally, taking into account its significance and impact.
For HR, distinguishing between skills and competencies is vital when selecting talent. It helps identify candidates who are not only fit for the job but also have the potential to grow and develop within the company. Additionally, it supports the creation of growth and internal mobility plans, contributing to employees’ professional development.
Understanding these differences also allows for clearly defining job requirements, effectively assessing candidates, and setting realistic goals to build strong teams capable of achieving the organization’s strategic objectives. Evaluating both technical and soft skills provides a comprehensive view of a candidate’s suitability for a role and their ability to adapt and thrive in the workplace.
Developing skills and competencies within your organization is key to achieving long-term success, boosting productivity, enhancing performance, and reducing employee turnover. To achieve this, a personalized, modern, and innovative solution is essential. At isEazy Skills, we offer the most comprehensive course catalog to train your team, featuring interactive and dynamic e-learning content tailored to new digital learning approaches. Enhance your team’s talent and reach new levels of success in your organization.
Enhance your team's skills with isEazy Skills
Discover how isEazy Skills can transform your team’s skills with high-impact courses
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The essential power skills your team needs in 2024
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Enhance your team's skills with isEazy Skills
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