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POW: The Psychology of Work

By: The Association for Business Psychology
  • Summary

  • POW is the Psychology of Work podcast from the Association for Business Psychology. In this podcast we give you the latest explosive insights from some of the brightest thinkers - and doers - in the field of business psychology. Episodes cover topics such as the rise of the gig economy, leadership, personality, and assessment, and include interviews with small business 'tsar' Emma Jones MBE, Chief Executive of the RSA Matthew Taylor, the journalist James Bloodworth, and business psychology pioneer Professor Peter Saville.
    Copyright Richard Chataway
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Episodes
  • Episode 42: Vision and values are not enough – A conversation with David Sharpley, author of Leadership Principles and Purpose
    Jun 23 2024
    David Sharpley is a leadership development expert and experienced organisational psychologist. In an absorbing discussion with Rob Feltham, David draws on his own extensive experience and research, and shares valuable insights into what distinguishes healthy organisations from unhealthy and self-destructive ones, examples of the latter being UK Post Office and RBS. David is critical of widely shared assumptions about what successful leadership and successful business looks like. He takes aim, for example, at simplistic notions of charismatic and transformational leadership, and challenges primitive theories of motivation. David draws particular attention to the role of Superordinate Principles as the foundation for effective leadership and in enabling organisational alignment and consistent high quality execution.

    David has a considerable track-record in the design and implementation of senior management/leadership development, and in support of this he has developed the Pario online resources, which include surveys, 360 feedback, and work-preference profiling. His experience includes collaboration with JCS Investments in Ghana, facilitating new business and developing capability. Significant UK initiatives include work with BT, the financial sector, FTSE 250 companies, the NHS, and leading charities. David has also run Master-Class workshops on Competency Profiling & Assessment in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Bangkok. His lecturing experience at Warwick University (WMG) has explored issues relating to Organizations, People, and Performance.

    Call for Collaboration: David is currently piloting a new tool called the Team Index. It is a ‘180 degree feedback’ (or survey) tool for managers/team leaders and people in the team. David has undertaken initial validation, is developing it further, and is keen to partner with organisations interested in future-focused development. The tool supports leadership development, highlighting key factors that impact on peoples’ motivation and commitment. David welcomes discussion with business psychologists and others who would like to access the questionnaires and reports.

    About the book:

    Sharpley, D. (2024), Leadership Principles and Purpose: Developing Leadership Effectiveness and Future-Focused Capability, Routledge. (20% discount code SMA22 on Routledge site to 31/07/24)

    https://www.routledge.com/Leadership-Principles-and-Purpose-Developing-Leadership-Effectiveness-and-Future-Focused-Capability/Sharpley/p/book/9781032575063

    Rob Feltham is Podcast Editor of The ABP.
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    53 mins
  • Episode 41: Senior leadership disclosure of mental health lived experience: A conversation with Dr Rachel Lewis
    May 13 2024
    Rachel Lewis is widely published in the field of health and wellbeing at work and has contributed to national guidance, and evidence-based tools and interventions. We are delighted to have Rachel as our guest for this special podcast to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, 2024. In discussion with Alex Forsythe, Rachel provides fresh and sometimes counterintuitive insights into mental health at work, based on her ongoing research into senior leadership disclosure. She challenges the assumption that disclosure is always A Good Thing, and highlights some of the organisational and cultural challenges in creating a safe environment for mental health disclosure across the employee population. Rachel and Alex discuss the rigidity of some HR processes, which can result in an over-institutional approach to managing ‘harmful behaviour’ such as workplace violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, Rachel highlights the need for psychologists to pay sufficient attention to their own mental health issues. The podcast begins with Rachel talking through her varied and interesting career journey to date.

    Rachel provides the leadership and direction for Affinity Health at Work, as well as being a Reader in Occupational Psychology at Birkbeck University of London. Rachel has worked with leadership teams, HR professionals and at all levels of organisations across sectors to develop and embed new working practices. In 2023, Rachel was honoured to be ranked 3rd in the HR Most Influential Thinker Awards. She is also an Honorary Member of The ABP.

    Alex Forsythe is an Organisational Psychologist and Managing Director of the educational and organisational consulting firm, Chirality Consulting.

    Rob Feltham is Podcast Editor of the ABP.
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    29 mins
  • Episode 40: Challenging assumptions about psychometric assessment and reshaping our practice: A conversation with Professor Steve Woods
    May 8 2024
    Professor Steve Woods works at the leading edge of research into personality at work, including psychometric and personality trait assessment, and personality development and change. In conversation here with Rob Feltham, he discusses two recent and important peer reviewed articles in which he and co-researchers have critically examined and challenged current assumptions and practices in the fields of both personality assessment and of cognitive testing for selection into graduate and higher professional occupations. Steve highlights the need for personality assessment to focus more on the dynamic nature of traits, and for the assessment domain to more fully encompass prosocial behaviours at work, particularly in the context of leadership. As regards cognitive testing and prestige occupations, Steve points to its potential to perpetuate societal inequality and social disadvantage, and he outlines potential alternative ways forward for employers. Steve also discusses his own personal career journey.

    Steve is Professor of Work and Organisational Psychology at Surrey Business School, University of Surrey. He conducts research on personality and assessment at work, recruitment and selection in organisations, with special interests in how to ensure fair and effective assessment and digital selection procedures and analytics. His work is published in scientific and professional journals (e.g. Journal of Applied Psychology; Journal of Vocational Behaviour; Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology), scholarly books, and international conferences. He is co-author of the international text The Psychology of Work and Organizations with Prof Michael West. Steve collaborates with industry to help put research into action, and to help develop solutions to real world challenges of management, as a practitioner work and organisational psychologist in the UK and with businesses and organisations globally, especially in the areas of HR assessment, recruitment, selection and development. Since gaining his PhD, he has held academic posts at University of Nottingham, Aston Business School, University of Liverpool, University of Surrey and University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus.

    Rob Feltham is Podcast Editor of the ABP.

    Reading list:
    For listeners who wish to look further into the two articles specifically referred to in the podcast, they are:

    Ritz, J., Woods, S. A., Wille, B., Woo, S. E., Nübold, A., Beckmann, N., Dalal R.S., Galic Z., Wiernik B., Tett, R.P., Pickett, J. & Christiansen, N. (2023). Personality at work. Personality Science, 4(1).

    Woods, S.A. & Patterson, F. (2024). A critical review of the use of cognitive ability testing for selection into graduate and higher professional occupations. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 97(1).
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    45 mins

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