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Social work��supports people and families in need, providing resources and assistance for a variety of concerns. Because every person, family and situation is different, social workers rely on a diverse skill set. Although expertise can vary according to specialization, all social workers rely on a few��common skills and traits��to be effective. Here, we explore strengths and skills for a social worker that are vital to the field.

There are certain strengths and skills for a social worker that can equip them for the job. In addition to the specific education and training needed to enter the field, social workers should have or strengthen several personal qualities and skills to best support their clients. While some of these may come naturally, others might require more effort or intention. The good news? No skill is entirely outside the range of possibility, no matter where natural strengths lie.

We've identified the top four inherent qualities that help a social worker on their mission to help people.��

A 2020 study on the field states: “Empathy is one of the fundamental tools of the therapeutic relationship between the [caregivers] and their patients and it has been proven that its contribution is vital to better health outcomes.”

The study discusses what it means to be empathetic and how empathy differs from sympathy and compassion.��This can be an important distinction for social workers as well.

Social work can take an emotional toll over time, so practicing empathy is essential, especially when faced with challenges. It’s important for social workers to be understanding not only to clients but also to themselves in order to continue to provide the best care and support possible in the long term.

Patience and empathy go hand in hand. Fully understanding another person’s perspective or experience can take both effort and time.��

Additionally, slow-moving bureaucracy is an unfortunate reality of social work. Individuals prone to impatience might feel a lot of recurring frustration with this aspect, which could negatively impact their work.

While the patience required in social work may vary greatly from the general patience needed for everyday life, there are ways to develop this skill that can be beneficial in any situation. For example, a significant way is to practicing intentional patience, even during daily events.

This can be done in different ways, such as slowing down when rushing to do something or by learning to accept feeling uncomfortable when someone or something else is taxing patience. The effect of patience can be profound, especially when faced with situations where patience is not only a benefit but also a requirement.

In addition to the specific education and training needed to enter the field, social workers should have or strengthen several personal qualities to best support their clients. While some of these qualities may come naturally, others might require more effort or intention. The good news? No skill is entirely outside the range of possibility, no matter where your natural strengths lie.

Among essential skills for a social workr is the ability to commit. When working with clients who face recurring issues that can’t be fixed overnight, a long-term commitment to problem-solving may be the difference between temporary fixes and permanent solutions.��

Patience and empathy are similar because they can be stretched thin without proper support. Social workers’ commitment can become strained if they’re unable to deal effectively with the emotional load.��

To succeed in social work, people need to be aware of the emotional labor that comes with the job. They should be committed to their desire to act and dedicate themselves to their chosen field while remaining committed to their self-care as well.

It’s not uncommon for social workers to attend to people and families who are less than grateful for their involvement. One study explored “involuntary” and sometimes “hostile” social-work relationships along with the potential reasons for that hostility and general mistrust.

The study emphasized the for even “hostile” clients, stating, “Professionals need much more training to help them learn strategies that defuse these potentially explosive relationships, recognize their role in co-constructing the hostility, and how to work through resistance and engage with children and parents in respectful, reciprocal ways.”

While not all clients will be gracious, a social worker must be unshakable in demonstrating respect for their clients and their situations in order to achieve an optimal outcome for everyone.��

Social workers leverage a range of soft and hard skills when working with clients. Here are the essential ones.

Communication is among the necessary skills for a social worker. Communication, empathy and respect naturally work hand in hand to produce a well-rounded social worker. Particularly when it comes to their clients, social workers should keep in mind several forms of communication, including:

• Communication around expectations, meetings, sessions and scheduling
• Interpersonal communication, especially when discussing concerns and goals that may result in disagreement, hostility or other negative responses
• Written and oral communication skills with clients, supervisors and peers

Failing to meet or exceed the needs of good communication while working with clients or peers could lead to broken trust and delays in providing help and resources to clients.

Being organized is a necessary skill for a social worker.�� The ability to effectively organize all aspects of legal documentation and client notes, in addition to the details of their own life, will likely impact a social worker’s success. Widespread disorganization may lead to otherwise avoidable mistakes that could negatively affect the social worker and their clients.

Overall, strong organizational skills are essential for social workers, considering the amount of work they juggle. For example, a Department of Education survey found that reported working more hours than initially designated due to their workload.��In light of this expectation and the number of clients a social worker may have, strong organizational skills can help prevent avoidable errors in important tasks like legal documentation, scheduling and welfare checks.��

Intentional listening while working with clients is one of a social worker’s most important skills.��

Working with clients goes beyond simply hearing their concerns and then offering solutions. As a social worker, it’s important to also listen for signs of withheld information, dishonesty, tonal changes, details that don’t line up and other potential red flags.��

This approach to listening is sometimes referred to as , and it can play a role in building trust.

Critical thinking is among the important skills for a social worker. iNot all situations with clients will be straightforward — some clients may even withhold important information or change what they share about events to avoid embarrassment or guilt. In cases like these, by social workers can help prevent or correct important inaccuracies.

Some data suggests the more suspicious or discerning a person is, the more likely they are to spot a lie.��On the flip side, the more familiar a social worker is with a situation, the more easily they can suss out the truth. Combined with active, intentional listening, the ability to think critically is a non-negotiable quality to have and improve upon to ensure families receive the best assistance.

If you're interested in learning more about skills for a social worker, ���۴�ý offers online programs that include:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work
• Master of Science in Counseling/Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Contact ���۴�ý for more information.