POW: The Psychology of Work

In this special edition ABP podcast to mark International Women’s Day 2024, we hear from four distinguished female leaders who have been instrumental in shaping the exciting field of online learning over the past two decades. Innovation in the online learning space is transforming education to become much more: accessible and inclusive; responsive to the fast changing skills requirements of industry in an increasingly ‘digital first’ world of work; and accessible globally, including to traditionally excluded groups. Topics covered include microcredentials, blended learning, and the challenges and exciting opportunities for women working in this space. Podcast guests: Vicky Irwin – Senior Director of Consultancy at Times Higher Education. Vicky works with universities, governments, and businesses across the world, to help guide their higher education strategies. Kate Lindsay – Senior Vice Present of Academic Services at Higher Ed Partners. Kate spearheads academic partnerships with Universities across the UK to build capability and capacity in the delivery of fully online learning programmes. Jo-Anne Murray – VP Education at the University of Aberdeen. Jo-Anne has 20 years’ experience of leading online and digital education. She has worked in both the academic and the commercial sector leading digital transformation in education. Alex Forsythe – Professor of Applied Psychology and Organisational Psychologist. Alex works with universities, governments and businesses across the world, to help guide their digital learning strategies. Podcast Editor – Rob Feltham

David Royston-Lee and Dr Sylvana Storey have recently published an updated third edition of their highly popular book, Brand You – a readable and practical guide to developing one’s personal brand (details below). In conversation with Rob Feltham, David and Sylvana provide the rationale for, and powerful examples of, developing a strong and consistent personal brand. They also point to the pitfalls of inept personal branding and highlight how the concept of personal brand has become confused with the ‘cult of celebrity’. Authentic personal brand is grounded in purpose and values, is a source of personal energy, guides career choices and decisions, and enables others quickly to understand what one is about across the range of life’s situations. Fake personal brand is grounded in what others expect and results in a ‘cardboard cut-out’ persona which ultimately satisfies no-one and creates problems for individual well-being and adjustment. Other topics covered in the discussion include definition of personal brand, personal reputation and reach, and the communication of personal brand through social media. David Royston-Lee David is a business psychologist and an expert in career management for people of all ages. He has a background in business as a CEO and Management Consultant, and also as a Human Resources Director, and latterly as a senior executive coach in leadership working globally with individuals wanting to be the best version of themselves. Dr Sylvana Storey is also a business psychologist and former management consultant, and a highly regarded expert in culture change, leadership and diversity equity and inclusion. A former management consultant and CEO of Global Organizational Integrators, Sylvana is now Global Head of People Experience for Kroll. Rob Feltham is Podcast Editor for the ABP. About the book: The book van be located here: https://www.pearson.com/en-gb/subject-catalog/p/brand-you/P200000010321/9781292725581 The promo code is BRANDYOU20 and expires on 30th March 2024.

Dan Hughes is Senior Director of Research and Development at Talogy, a global talent management consultancy that specialises in selection, development and engagement of talent and whose solutions blend state-of-art psychology and technology. In discussion with Professor Alex Forsythe, Dan describes some of the key findings from Talogy’s extensive research in the leadership space. He highlights in particular: the speed with which employee’s expectations of their leaders changing, especially post-pandemic; the central role of motivation in leadership effectiveness; how leadership is enhanced through addressing core psychological needs; and how the best leaders survive and thrive under pressure and in the face of challenges. Dan is Business Psychologist with extensive experience in leading the creation and implementation of innovative product solutions and technology to help organisations with their talent management goals. He is an HCPC Registered Occupational Psychologist with over 25 years’ experience working in R&D / Product roles in several talent management consultancies, and has developed a range of products, including personality and emotional intelligence questionnaires, SJTs, competency and leadership frameworks, digital work simulations, volume hire processes, a smartphone app to embed learning, cognitive ability tests, interview guide libraries, 360 feedback questionnaires, and job profiling tools. He has worked with clients across a variety of sectors, including the emergency services, public sector, professional services, healthcare, retail and construction. Dan regularly publishes research and thought leadership, for example at conferences such as DOP, ABP, SIOP and CIPD. He is Consultant Editor for the BPS Psychological Testing Centre test review process. Alex Forsythe is Professor of Applied Psychology at the University of Wolverhampton, where she is Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing. Talogy / Strategic talent management, assessment & development

In a special edition of the ABP podcast series, recorded to mark National Career Development Month November 2023, we hear Dawn Nicholson in conversation with Rob Feltham. Drawing a highly successful career which has spanned business and academia, Dawn has led pioneering initiatives for the Association for Business Psychology which have included building the ABP’s university accreditation programme and developing the ground-breaking Biz Psych cup – both of which are discussed in the podcast. During the discussion Dawn provides an extremely clear overview of the ABP’s approach to development and certification of business psychologists, and highlights the significant benefits that qualified psychologists can offer to organisations, particularly once they learn to adapt their knowledge and data-analytical skills to the practical issues facing business. Dawn also points out similarities and differences between the ABP and British Psychological Society certification processes, which are in some ways complementary. Other topics covered include intergenerational job sharing and the contribution of flexible employment practices to business success. Dawn worked for almost 28 years in internal Human Resources (HR) roles and as an advisor to HR, in professional and financial services in the City of London. She spent 3 years as a Partner in PwC's HR Consulting business, working with clients on their people-related issues and on PwC's client diversity offering. Prior to PwC, Dawn was Managing Director, Deputy Head of Human Resources for Europe, The Middle East and Africa, for the global investment bank, Morgan Stanley, where she worked for 16 years. Dawn was responsible for areas including reward, benefits, diversity, employee engagement, learning and development and recruiting. During that time, she also worked closely with internal employee diversity networks. Before joining Morgan Stanley, Dawn spent 9 years at Arthur Andersen advising clients on employee-related tax and HR issues. Dawn retired from PwC in June 2013 and returned to academia to pursue her primary passion - understanding and improving group decision-making processes. She was awarded her PhD in group decision-making in the School of Psychology at Kent in 2019 and now lectures in Business and Organisational Psychology at Kent, where she is currently the Programme Director for the MSc Organisational and Business Psychology. Dawn is Vice Chair and Head of University Accreditation for the ABP. Rob Feltham is Podcast Editor of The ABP.

In a special edition of the ABP podcast series, recorded during Black History Month 2023, we hear Joy Maitland in conversation with Dawn Nicholson. The discussion delves deep into the heart of inclusivity, unravelling the immense potential that lies within embracing diversity and exploring the boundless strength that diverse perspectives bring to the table. Diversity isn’t just a buzzword. It is the secret sauce to innovation and understanding. Drawing from a wealth of psychological expertise and practical insights gained from real-life experiences, Joy shares examples of how embracing diversity of various forms can turn the mundane into the extraordinary. Other topics covered include organisational culture, psychological safety, and Black History Month itself which this year incorporates the theme of ‘saluting our sisters’. Joy is a multi-award-winning Business Psychologist, Organisational Development Consultant and Executive Coach, and the author of ‘From Alpha to Zen: Leadership for a Brave New World.’ With extensive experience in senior-level corporate management, Joy holds fellowships with the Institute of Directors, the Institute of Leadership, and the Chartered Management Institute. Throughout her career, Joy has worked with renowned global brands such as Vodafone, 3M, Sony, RBS, and Credit Lyonnais. In 2005, she launched Inemmo Leadership Development Solutions. This venture followed her role as Group Director Operations at Taylor Nelson Sofres, a prominent FTSE 250 firm. Joy also currently holds the position of Non-Executive Director and Vice Chair at the Plane Saver Credit Union. She has served as a Trustee Board Member of The Institute of Leadership and later as an Independent Director on their Nominations and Succession Committee. Additionally, she has contributed her expertise as a board director at the Amos Bursary and as Vice Chair of the Ekaya Housing Association. Dr Dawn Nicholson is Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor), Business & Organisational Psychology at University of Kent, and a Board Member of the ABP.

Rob Briner is an inspirational thought leader in the field of evidence based practice in management and HR. In a wide ranging discussion with Rob Feltham he highlights the dangers of business psychologists and other practitioners becoming submersed in “activity” without considering sufficiently how their work addresses the client organization’s overall goals and needs. He also highlights the potential for business psychologists to deploy their skills to greater effect in the businesses they serve, and the need for better training of psychologists in this regard. Rob is Professor of Organizational Psychology at Queen Mary, University of London and was co-founder and Scientific Director of the Center for Evidence-Based Management (www.cebma.org). His research has focused on topics including well-being, emotions, stress, ethnicity, the psychological contract, absence from work, motivation, work-nonwork and everyday work behaviour. He has written for and presented to practitioners on many aspects of HR and organizational psychology and is now involved in various initiatives aimed at developing and promoting evidence-based practice, work for which he has received several prestigious awards. He is regularly invited as a keynote to international conferences and consults and delivers workshops to a range of public, private and third sector organizations. Rob Feltham is Podcast Editor of The ABP.

Rich is the founder of Mindset Practice and author of an evidence-based suite of applied humanistic psychology solutions, including innovative psychometrics, that enable people to perform more consistently from a mindset of Growth than Survival. In discussion with Alex Forsythe, Rich describes how he has drawn on psychological models from areas such as transactional analysis, growth mindset theory and emotional intelligence to develop a powerful blended approach. He illustrates the approach with fascinating examples from both his consulting work and his personal life. Rich is an award-winning mindset and applied-emotional intelligence expert. His work with STEM talent won the 2014 Civil Service Skills Award and most recently Mindset Practice won the 2022 Association of Business Psychology's Excellence in Innovation Award. Rich’s 20 years plus experience as a Chartered Occupational Psychologist spans roles in external consultancy (e.g., JCA, Aon Water for Fish), internal consultancy (e.g. Shell) and specialist research (e.g. whilst working for the UK MoD's defence research organisation DERA (now Dstl). http://www.linkedin.com/in/richcook-mindsetpractice Alex Forsythe is Professor of Applied Psychology at the University of Wolverhampton.

Sunaina Sinha Haldea began life from humble beginnings, playing on the streets of India and Vietnam as a child - yet went on to found leading global placement agent and secondaries advisory firm Cebile Capital in 2011, which was subsequently acquired by Raymond James, a Fortune-500 financial services firm, where she now works as Global Head of Private Capital Advisory. Having been Stanford and Harvard educated, and working in her early career in Silicon Valley, Sunaina has always thrived in a very male-dominated industry, and has devoted much of her career to mentoring others in the industry, particularly women and minorities. In an engaging discussion with Alex Forsythe, Sunaina describes how she applies psychological principles to work. She places mindfulness and meditation at the core of her practice and attributes a solid portion of her success to her positive mental health practices. And she speaks passionately about driving a healthy, proactive business culture, partly through measurement and assessment. Sunaina has regular speaking slots on CNBC and the BBC, is also a stand-in Dragon for Dragon’s Den in the UK. Alex Forsythe is Professor of Applied Psychology at the University of Wolverhampton.

The rapidly increasing age profile of the UK’s workforce creates both strategic and psychological challenges for employers, for individuals, and for society as a whole. Lyndsey Simpson works across a wide range of industries and sectors to help employers revamp their recruitment and employment practices with regard to older workers. In this episode, Lyndsey is interviewed by Lucy Standing who, as a co-founder of Brave Starts, is herself involved in providing research-backed insights and programmes to support late career professionals. Areas covered in the discussion include the post-war retirement construct, which is broken; evidence that the recruitment market discriminates massively against older workers, whose potential is completely underestimated; and the prevalence of attitudes and employment practices which are not conducive to sustaining careers into older life. Recognising a gap in the market for a brand that answers the call of the ‘bet-your-ass-I-can’ over-50s, Lyndsey Simpson set up 55/Redefined to fly the flag for those who may be getting older but have no intention of slowing down. Previously, Lyndsey was CEO of HR & Recruitment Outsourcer, The Curve Group, before exiting her investment in 2020 and her early career was in Financial Services. Lyndsey also co-owns Copper House Bar & Brasserie and is recognised in the ‘UK’s Top 35 Businesswomen’ by Management Today and The Sunday Times and the ‘UK’s 50 Most Inspirational Female Entrepreneurs’.

Dr Jolyon (Jo) Maddocks has played an influential role in the development of psychometrically based approaches to the assessment and development of emotional intelligence. In conversation here with Rob Feltham, he provides a fascinating account of how the emotional intelligence concept originally captured the imagination of business leaders and rapidly became an integral part of business thinking. He discusses the part that he and his colleagues have played in taking assessment of emotional intelligence in fresh directions, with the focus on EI as being “a thing that you do” which is thus learnable and developable. Jo also talks about derailment, and the combined power of EI and personality assessment in understanding and predicting work behaviour and performance. Jo is Chief Psychologist for Developmental Products at Talogy. Prior to this Jo was co-founder of JCA occupational psychologists that he helped to grow into a thriving business over a 25-year period prior to its acquisition by Talogy in 2018. Over a 30-year career Jo has authored several widely used psychometric products and self-development programmes which have helped thousands of people develop their self-esteem, enhance their relationships and improve their performance at work. As a thought leader and experienced practitioner Jo has consulted with global organisations and government institutions. In 2018 he published the second edition of Emotional Intelligence at work: How to make change stick, and in 2019 completed his professional doctorate on an attitude-based model of Emotional Intelligence. Rob Feltham is Podcast Editor of The ABP.

In discussion with Rob Feltham, Stewart shares his innovative approach to personality assessment, and in particular how he has worked to overcome reductionism and evaluative bias. Topics covered include: neurodivergence as a continuum; personality as a lens through which to understand the impacts of the ‘enforced experiment’ of remote working during the pandemic and beyond; and effective leadership in the remote environment which appears to draw on some different personality characteristics to those of the traditional leader. Dr Stewart Desson is the founder and CEO of international learning and development company, Lumina Learning. His focus is to ‘transform organisations through transforming their people’. Stewart has developed a wide range of learning resources and web-based psychometrics, including the renowned personality tool Lumina Spark. Through Lumina Learning, Stewart supports clients from around the world in the customisation of these learning resources to achieve effective change at the organisational, team and individual level. Stewart is a highly experienced Business Psychologist and Organisational Development consultant. His special areas of expertise include Team effectiveness, Communication, Personal Development, Executive Coaching and Leadership skill development. Those interested in participating in the research study mentioned by Stewart at the end of the podcast are invited to email Lumina Learning at JonathanCannon@luminalearning.com or to reach out to Stewart at linkedin.com/in/stewartdesson

In a wide-ranging discussion with Rob Feltham, Nathalie shares her insights into factors that help make some businesses and brands resilient and sustainable in competitive markets and during challenging times. Topics covered include the Thoughtful Marketing movement, the interaction of values-based consumer choices and purchasing power, and the market dominance of some global brands. Nathalie’s background in human behaviour, web design and the arts offer a unique vantage point from which to examine the complex challenges we face today. Her best-selling book: Webs Of Influence: The Psychology of Online Persuasion has been adopted as the go-to manual by business leaders and universities alike, and her new book, Business Unusual: Values, Uncertainty and the Psychology of Brand Resilience, has been described as “One of the defining business books of our times”. A behavioural science advisor and host of The Hive Podcast, Nathalie helps clients including Google, Accenture, Unilever and Harvard Business Review, to ethically apply behavioural science principles to enhance their business. Rob Feltham is Podcast Editor of The ABP.

This special podcast episode features Sakshi Bansal, recipient of the 2021 ABP Chair’s Award for Excellence in Business Psychology, in recognition of her pioneering work as founder of Project LEAP. In conversation with Alex Forsythe, Sakshi gives a fascinating description of how she took LEAP from small beginnings to an initiative with world-wide impact, something that has been recognised by UNESCO in making her its first Kindness Leader. Sakshi outlines the practical steps she has taken to motivate, train and enable the volunteer community. She also discusses Kindness as a concept and, more generally, highlights the need for business psychology to take a strategic, technology-driven and multi-disciplinary approach. Sakshi has received the 2022 Diana Award, the most prestigious accolade a young person can receive for their social action or humanitarian work. She works as a Consultant at Saville Assessment and, among a wide range of voluntary roles and responsibilities, is President of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Council for Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Alex Forsythe is Professor of Applied Psychology at the University of Wolverhampton, and Chair of the ABP.

In an engaging discussion with Alex Forsythe, Claire de Carteret points to alarming current trends in workplace well-being globally, and offers practical advice to leaders and employees about how to create exceptional workplaces which have net positive impact on people and the planet. Claire makes a compelling case for adopting a strengths based approach in organisations, and points to the critical role of measurement as a baseline for improving workforce wellbeing. As Regional Director (EMEA) for Gallup, Claire leads the learning and development teams in designing and implementing learning and measurement solutions that help Gallup’s clients meet and exceed their organisational goals. Claire provides strategic direction for her region on shaping client solutions, executing sales plans, marketing for events and products, and increasing customer engagement. She is a dedicated strengths performance coach and leader for team members in Europe and the UK. Alex Forsythe is Professor of Applied Psychology at the University of Wolverhampton and Chair of the ABP.

In an absorbing discussion with Alex Forsythe, Nuala discusses her research into bystander effects in organisations, and outlines the practical steps that companies can take to encourage their employees to ‘blow the whistle’ on unethical behaviours. Nuala also discusses her own career and explains some of the career routes available to those looking to work in her field. Nuala is Founder and CEO of MindEquity, and Founding Director of the Global Association of Applied Behavioural Scientists. Her experience spans three decades in financial services at Merrill Lynch, BlackRock, PA Consulting, and Standard Life Aberdeen. She has been appointed to various advisory Boards including UN Women; The Football Association; World Athletics; the Innocence Project; and TSLombard. Nuala is lecturer and speaker with degrees in three disciplines, and her work has featured in Harvard Business Review and in Forbes. Alex Forsythe is Professor of Psychology at the University Wolverhampton and Chair of the ABP.

In conversation with Rob Feltham prior to his presentation to the recent ABP annual conference, Rob Baker discusses why modern work practices are failing us - constraining rather than amplifying our diverse skills, strengths, passions and interests. Globally over 90% of us aren’t engaged, excited, and energised about our jobs. Rob argues that Job Crafting is part of the solution, shaping work around people rather than expecting people to contort themselves around their jobs. The practice of Job Crafting is a growing field of academic study, but to date is largely untapped from a business perspective. There have been some early adopters including Google, Logitech, and Virgin money, and Rob provides fascinating examples based on his experience of introducing the approach to organisations. Rob Baker is a psychologist and founder of Tailored Thinking an award-winning positive psychology, HR and wellbeing consultancy. Rob’s work, ideas and research on job crafting has been presented at academic and professional conferences around the globe.

In an absorbing discussion with Alex Forsythe, John Amaechi talks about his background, his views on leadership and the supposed ‘new normal’, and the need for radical change in a post Covid world. He also shares some of his personal experiences and perspectives on life. John is a respected organisational psychologist, best-selling New York Times author, sought after public speaker, executive coach, and CEO of APS Ltd. He is a non-executive director of a £2.4bn healthcare organisation in addition to being a board advisor for several FTSE100 organisations. In 2019, John was recognised as one of HR’s most influential thinkers by HR Magazine. John is a Chartered Scientist, a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health. He is a Research Fellow at the University of East London, and his research interests are effective, inclusive leadership, building high-performing teams, and organisational design that maximises productivity and human thriving in readiness for the future world of work. John is also a former basketball player and was first Briton to have a career in the NBA. Professor Alex Forsythe is Professor of Applied Psychology at the University of Wolverhampton and Chair of the ABP.

In conversation with Rob Feltham, Professor Ian Robertson discusses some of the themes from his recently published and critically acclaimed book entitled How Confidence Works. He describes how confidence is something of a self-fulfilling prophecy and how it can be enhanced, and he draws attention to the upsides and downsides of overconfidence and narcissism. He provides fascinating insights into: the role of confidence in leadership, including gender differences; leadership differences across individualistic and collectivist cultures; and the psychology of Brexit. Listeners will also be interested to hear something about Ian’s career journey and his future aspirations. Ian is co-director of the Global Brain Health Institute, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Trinity College Dublin, and Research Professor at the University of Texas at Dallas. He is a clinically trained psychologist and neuroscientist who is internationally renowned for his research on neuropsychology. He has written five books and numerous newspaper and magazine articles, and made appearances on BBC radio and in several major television documentaries.

In discussion with ABP Board member Guy Cohen, Dr Nancy Doyle provides a challenging critique of how organisations ‘tick the box of diversity inclusion’ whilst their recruitment and development practices perpetuate segregation. She also points to the failings of the education system in preparing young people for the workplace. She brings clarity to the complex terminology surrounding neurodiversity, and offers fascinating insights into the neurodiversity movement as a whole. Nancy offers constructive and forward looking advice to businesses and organisations, seeing the future as being about “systemic inclusion” and greater flexibility in HR processes and programmes. Dr Doyle is a Research Fellow with Birkbeck University and is the CEO and founder owner of Genius Within, which facilitates successful inclusion through consultancy, workshops and coaching for businesses and employees, working with people who are unemployed or incarcerated. Nancy helped create and featured in both series of the award-winning BBC Two series Employable Me, where she supported a group of extraordinary job seekers to unlock their own unique talents and abilities in order to secure employment. This was syndicated in 2019 in the USA as ‘The Employables”, and the show has been incredibly successful in showing that neurodiversity should not be a barrier to employment.

Donald Taylor is a well-known commentator and organiser in the field of workplace learning and learning technologies. In an engaging discussion with ABP Vice Chair Lucy Standing, he shares his perspectives on the future of L&D, highlighting both the dangers of the training course “treadmill” and the huge opportunities for L&D professionals who partner with their organisations and embrace performance consulting. He also provides fascinating insights into the technologies which are reshaping L&D, and shares his observations about how the Covid crisis has accelerated the move to “digital by default” whilst creating a need for pause and reflection. Donald was the 2007 recipient of the Colin Corder award for services to training and has chaired the Learning Technologies Conference since 2000. He also chairs the Learning and Skills Group, hosting its bi-weekly webinar programme, and edits Inside Learning Technologies Magazine. He is a graduate of Oxford University and in 2016 was awarded an honorary doctorate by Middlesex University in recognition of his work developing the L&D profession.