According to Skills Development Scotland

A meta skill is a “higher-order” skill that enables you to better learn other skills and improve your existing ones. 

Essentially, meta skills are the foundation for developing, cultivating, and executing other skills.

Hard skills vs. soft skills

Hard skills refer to technical knowledge and training, while soft skills describe personal and behavioural traits such as communication skills and leadership. These might also be referred to as skills (hard) and qualities (soft).

Both skill types are essential for advancement in the vast majority of careers. Important skills depend on several factors, including the type of job, position in the company’s hierarchy and necessary qualifications. Almost all jobs will require certain soft skills to cooperate with others, perform effectively and adapt to the workplace. It’s important to consider your skills and adapt your CV depending on the requirements outlined in the job description.

The above definition came from Indeed.com – further reading here

Whilst – as described by Indeed above, both hard skills and soft skills are essential for all areas of work, improving your meta skills will actually massively help you to pick up new skills

Soft Skills vs Meta Skills

Soft skills are transferable skills which are applicable in various vocational areas

Here are 15 soft skills examples that are essential traits among employees:

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Critical thinking
• Decision-making
• Organizational
• Stress management
• Adaptability
• Conflict management
• Leadership
• Creativity
• Resourcefulness
• Persuasion
• Openness to criticism

Meta skills are higher order skills that enable you to pick up new skills or improve your existing ones

Meta-Skills can be grouped into 3 main areas

• Self Management
• Social Intelligence
• Innovation

Self-Management – an overview