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Occupational psychology is a unique and broad area of psychology depended upon quite heavily in many businesses today. What exactly is occupational psychology? Read on as we breakdown a pivotal vocation in workplace psychology.
Job Description
Occupational psychologists are typically employed by private businesses. Their main goal is that of workplace cohesion and finding ways to maximize and fully utilize potential. This is done via a keen understanding of workplace psychology – how people think and act when on the job. Such understandings encompass a broad portion of psychology as a whole, utilizing components of virtually all sub-studies within the field.
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Five Core Focuses
Within workplace psychology, there are many, singular duties taken on by its resident worker. To categorize all of the functions of the vocation, we can look to five key areas of focus for those working here. There are five, main areas of focus.
1. Identify Ability, Motivate Potential
It is of great importance that the psychologist working in this area administer ways in which the company can identify its employees’ various strengths and abilities. This is usually done via a series of tests or through workplace observation. Once potential and ability have been identified, workplace psychologists can then find ways in which to harvest this potential, individually or in the group.
2. Motivate Action
Motivating action in employees is also very important. Having potential and talent means nothing if this isn’t actionable. Occupational psychologists must therefore come up with ways to motivate the workforce as effectively as possible. Reward systems, acknowledgments, and even pay raises can all factor in here.
3. Assess Performance, Inhibitors
Third on the to-do list for those working in workplace psychology is the assessment of employee performance. Numerous routes can be taken in measuring and analyzing performance, but the goal is always to identify it. In addition, it is also important here to identify performance inhibitors. These can be factors affecting the employee at work or at home.
4. Facilitate Positive Changes
Any shortcomings found in employees or company management of them will likely be identified by the occupational psychologist and their methods. The work doesn’t stop here though. The psychologist will then look for ways to negate these detractors that are actionable and likely to succeed.
5. Organizational Design
Finally, organizational design is perhaps the most broad area of focus for workplace psychologists. In this area of focus, all of the above-mentioned factors are considered and weighed carefully. The psychologist can then advise management, human resources, and all other areas of the overall company organization on possible, better methods of practice.
BLS Specs
A look to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics can tell us even more about this field and those working it. According to the BLS, this field is growing with an average growth in the workforce of around 14.1%. There is currently more demand for this type of work along the coasts than in the central US. The psychologist working in this realm is expected to have a mean hourly wage of around $44.38. In addition, according to the BLS, the primary industries that utilize this line of expertise are research and development and the management and consulting industry.
Workplace psychology can help a business to thrive or make it dive. Harvesting the best potential from the company and its employees is what it’s all about. These are the basics of occupational psychology and the experience of working within it.
