When an organizational psychologist begins working with a company, they will spend time observing, doing interviews and researching workplace dynamics. They want to know all about the projects that are underway and any pain points that the teams feel while doing their work. Once they've gathered and analyzed their research, these skilled professionals will begin making action plans to improve the workplace.
Here are top four perks of an organizational psychologist:
Organizational psychologists are a huge benefit to human resources. They help create programs that celebrate employees and train them in ways that best fit with the company culture. Organizational psychologists bring psychological research to their work with human resources offices so that employees feel like they are being respected and listened to.
Organizational psychologists understand human motivation. This helps them develop the best trainings for a company’s workforce. They also understand how to best use benefits and perks to increase employee satisfaction and engagement. When conflicts between employees arise, they can mediate and help create collegial working environments.
Organizational psychologists use certain tools to help engage with employees in the workplace. Some of the essential tools include DISC Assessment, Hogan Personality Inventory, Occupational Personality Questionnaire and 16 Personality Factors. All of these tools help build organization in the company along with good relations between employees.
Companies that have been in business for a long time may have a complex organizational structure. This often happens because people who were hired at one level are promoted into jobs that may not have existed before, or jobs that were created especially for their skills. As this growth occurs, the company’s organizational structure does not often change to reflect reality. An organizational psychologist will research how people work together and create a comprehensive organizational chart that reflects the company's dynamics and processes.
Organizational psychologists understand consumer behavior. So, instead of just working internally with the team, the psychologist may help them understand and conduct market research. The organizational psychologist can help explain the buying patterns and customer thought processes that the company may be unaware of.
Learn more about how Grand Canyon University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences provides students with ways to bring psychological practices to the workplace.
Retrieved from:
1 American Psychological Association, Pursuing a Career in I/O Psychology in August 2022
2 Alliant International University, What Does an Organizational Psychologists Do in August 2022
Approved by the Assistant Dean of Behavioral Health for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences on Oct. 18, 2022