microskills
Tiny learned abilities
Microskills are the small, discrete components that make up larger competencies.
In counseling and therapy, microskills include specific techniques like active listening, reflecting feelings, and asking open-ended questions—building blocks that trainees practice individually before combining them into fluid professional practice.
The term appears in education, management, and any field where complex abilities can be broken into teachable units: The workshop focused on presentation microskills like eye contact and pacing.
Exchanging ideas or information
- listeningAttending to sound
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- rapport-buildingDeveloping comfortable professional connection
- prioritizationRanking by importance
delegation · conflict-resolution · negotiation · persuasion · networking · interviewing · presenting
Professional guidance for problems
- interviewingFormal questioning session
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- paraphrasingRestating in new words
- summarizingCondensing to main points
empathy · rapport · confrontation · immediacy · self-disclosure · goal-setting
Guiding others to improve
- mentoringAdvising someone less experienced
- instructionGuidance for action
- modelingSimulating or demonstrating form
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
guidance · tutorials · workshops · modules · curriculum · rubrics · competencies · benchmarks
Skillful hand coordination
- aptitudeInnate capability
- finesseSubtle, deft handling
- knackInnate ease at something
- adroitnessSkillful ease in action
precision · technique · coordination · fluency · nimbleness · agility · execution · accuracy
Repeated work toward mastery
- repetitionAct of redoing
- drillsRepetitive training routines
- exercisesActivities for fitness
- habituationDiminished reaction over time
progression · refinement · improvement · development · scaffolding · chunking · feedback · assessment
communication
Exchanging ideas or information
- listeningAttending to sound
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- rapport-buildingDeveloping comfortable professional connection
prioritization · delegation · conflict-resolution · negotiation · persuasion · networking · interviewing · presenting
counseling
Professional guidance for problems
- interviewingFormal questioning session
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- paraphrasingRestating in new words
summarizing · empathy · rapport · confrontation · immediacy · self-disclosure · goal-setting
coaching
Guiding others to improve
- mentoringAdvising someone less experienced
- instructionGuidance for action
- modelingSimulating or demonstrating form
demonstration · guidance · tutorials · workshops · modules · curriculum · rubrics · competencies · benchmarks · observation
dexterity
Skillful hand coordination
adroitness · precision · technique · coordination · fluency · nimbleness · agility · execution · accuracy · timing
practice
Repeated work toward mastery
- repetitionAct of redoing
- drillsRepetitive training routines
- exercisesActivities for fitness
habituation · progression · refinement · improvement · development · scaffolding · chunking · feedback · assessment · mastery
microskillsexpertise
Skill from extensive practice
mastery · systems thinking · virtuosity · executive functions · executive function