Imagine a workplace where everything just… works. No bureaucratic delays. No counter-intuitive forms or software. No communication problems. No interpersonal conflicts. No worries. Organisational psychology is the study of human thoughts, feelings and behaviours relating to the world of work, and the application of psychology methods, theories and findings to workplace improvement. It helps you…
Alysa Liu’s victory in the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships is nothing short of inspirational. Not just for aspiring ice dancers, but also for people experiencing burnout! Burnout is a condition caused by chronic stress. The primary symptoms are described by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as:* Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion;* Increased…
by Ben J. Searle, Organisational Psychologist The big IR, HR, and WHS news in Australia this week is the new legislation around the right to disconnect. The legislation (to give it it’s proper name, “The Fair Work Amendment (Right to Disconnect) Bill”) will provide employees the right — where reasonable — to ignore work-related communications…
A brief series I made in 2014 on the nature of work stress and how to manage it.
Mind on the Job episode 06 is about Designing & coaching terrific teams! When a group of people get together under the right conditions, they can make a successful team — one whose collective capability is greater than the sum of its parts. But not all teams are effective, and some are downright dysfunctional. So why…
Mind on the Job episode 05: Organisational Culture & Climate! When people work in social groupings, like organisations, they tend to develop a shared set of perceptions, attitudes, and values. These can be reinforced through systems, behaviours, and personnel selection until you have measurable phenomena that we call organisational culture (and it’s more easily measured…
Mind on the Job episode 04: Assessment for Selection! People are an organisation’s greatest asset, and from time to time, an organisation needs new people. But when a bunch of candidates apply for the one job, how do we work out who is the best person for the job? What are the limitations of traditional…
Mind on the Job episode 3 — #Burnout & #Wellbeing! Work can sometimes be stressful, but if it gets too bad or goes on for too long, people can burn out. But what does that look like? How would you know if you’re at risk of burning out? What causes burnout, and what should organisations be…
Mind on the Job Episode 2 — Workplace Bullying! It’s a menace, it causes huge problems, and it happens in more workplaces than you’d think. So if someone is treating you badly at work, why is that happening, and what steps should be taken? In this episode, Ben chats to organisational psychology experts Associate Professor Michelle…
Success! Episode 1 is now available through iTunes — now’s your chance to subscribe to this podcast about applications of psychology in the workplace. It’s also available through SoundCloud and Pocket Cast!