Social competences

Capabilities for interaction, cooperation and coexistence

Social competences are a set of capabilities that allow people interact with other people in an effective, respectful and constructive manner in different contexts: educational, professional, communal and personal. They refer to the way of interacting, collaborating, communicating and managing our relations, taking into account both our own emotions and behaviors as well as of the rest.

These competences are essential for coexistence, teamwork, social participation and development of healthy laboral and social environments. In contrast with instrumental competences, which are focused on the use of cognitive and methodological tools, social competences mark the focus on the relational dimension of human behavior.

What do social competences include?

Social competences cover a broad set of abilities linked with interpersonal interaction and to community life. Among the most relevant can be found:

1. Interpersonal communication: capability of listening actively, expressing clear ideas and emotions and adapting language to the context and interlocutors.
2. Teamwork and cooperation: ability to collaborate with other people, assume shared responsibilities, contribute to common objectives and value the diversity of contributions.
3. Empathy and social comprehension: capability to put yourself in other people's shoes, understand their emotions, necessities and views, and answer in an adequate manner.
4. Conflict management: identification and constructive facing of disagreements through dialogue, negotiation and search of consensual solutions.
5. Respect, tolerance and coexistence: attitudes and behaviors based on mutual respect, acceptation of diversity and democratic coexistence.
6. Social responsibility: capability of acting taking into account own's actions consequences on other people and social environment.

These competences are manifested in observable behaviors and they are developed progressively through experience, reflection and interaction with other people.

Importance of social competences

Las competencias sociales son fundamentales porque influyen directamente en:

• The quality of personal and professional relations.
• The work climate in organizations and teams.
• The oeaceful resolution of conflicts.
• The active and responsible participation in society.
• The personal and collective wellbeing.

In educational contexts, they favour inclusion, coexistence and collaborative learning. In the professional context, they are decisive for teamwork, shared leadership and organizational efficiency.

Social competences and laboral environment

The current laboral market values in an increasing way social competencies, since the majority of job positions require continuous interaction with other people: collegues, customers, users, suppliers or multidisciplinary teams.

Social competences allow:

• Collaborate effectively in diverse teams.
• Communicate clear and respectfully.
• Manage tensions and laboral conflicts.
• Adapt to different organizational cultures.
• Contribute to more healthy and laboral work environments.

Therefore, they are considered a key component of employability and professional sustainable performance.

A pillar for life in society

Beyond laboral context, social competences are essential for daily life and citizen participation. They facilitate coexistence, dialogue, cooperation and building of relations based on respect and confidence. They also contribute to the development of more cohesive, inclusive and supportive communities.

In set, social competencies constitute a basic pillar in the personal and social development, since they allow people interact in a conscious, responsible and constructive manner, facing challenges of common life in a positive way.