Organizational Sherlocks, a Business Psychology podcast

There is a story that runs quietly through the mental health field — and through purpose-driven organizations of every kind: that caring too much about money, growth, or business systems makes you less committed to the people you serve. That profit is the thing you reluctantly manage, not something you can build with intention. Dr. Elil Yuvarajan has spent over a decade proving that wrong. In this...

S3, Ep.18 - Growth by Design: How a Car Salesman Turned CEO Cracked the Code on Performance Management Episode Summary: Most organizations have a growth plan. Very few have a growth system, and that difference is everything. In this episode of Organizational Sherlocks, Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth sit down with Stephen Moore, CEO of DualDash and author of Strike Zone: The Performance Syst...

When a capability gap appears in your organization, you have three levers to pull: Build the talent internally, Buy it through external hiring, or Borrow it through fractional or contract work. In Episode 17, hosts Morgan Ashworth (MSIOP, MLS) and Dr. Elizabeth Fleming (PsyD) take you inside the Build, Buy, and Borrow levers — what they are, when to use them, and what quietly goes wrong when organ...

In this episode of Organizational Sherlocks, Dr. Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth unpack imposter syndrome—why it shows up, why transitions amplify it, and how to work through it without waiting for confidence to magically appear. We focus especially on moments like graduation, career changes, and new roles, where expectations are high and feedback can be unclear. You’ll learn how to use self...

S3, Ep.15 - Your Sales System Is Broken: Behavioral Science Explains Why | with Dr. Deepak Bhootra Episode Summary: In this episode, Morgan Ashworth sits down with Dr. Deepak Bhootra, B2B sales practitioner and organizational researcher, to explore why sales environments are one of the most revealing windows into how organizations actually function. What does performance under pressure really look...

Coachability gets talked about like a personality trait...either you “have it” or you don’t. In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth break that myth and explore coachability as a dynamic, learnable capacity shaped by mindset, motivation, and the systems people work inside. Using growth mindset, self-determination theory, and systems theory, they walk through how to assess readin...

In this episode, we sit down with Kirsten Liston, Founder and CEO of Rethink Compliance, to explore how modern compliance is evolving... from policies and enforcement to culture, behavior, and influence. If you’ve ever wondered why people “know the rules” and still break them, or why compliance training can feel performative (and ineffective), this conversation reframes compliance as a systems-and...

S3, Ep.12 Overcoming Why Performance Metrics Don’t Work: The Application of Gamification in KPIs to Change Performance Episode Summary: What makes KPIs effective: pressure and consequences, or systems that help people stay motivated and make meaningful progress?  In this episode of Organizational Sherlocks, Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth explore how gamification can transform KPIs from stre...

What if generational tension at work is not really about age at all? In this episode, Morgan and Elizabeth explore what is really happening beneath the surface when younger and older professionals struggle to connect at work. They discuss why generations should not be treated like personalities, how context shapes workplace expectations, and why psychological safety, healthy conflict, and curiosit...

S3, Ep.10 - Leadership Myths That Hold New Managers Back: Why You Shouldn't be the Smartest Person in the Room Episode Summary: What makes someone a strong leader: technical expertise, or the ability to help others do their best work? In this episode of Organizational Sherlocks , Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth challenge some of the most persistent myths about leadership, especially the...

Is hiring really about luck, or do the best organizations create their own odds? In this episode, Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth explore the common narrative of “lucky hires” and why relying on chance can be costly for organizations. They unpack the hidden risks of poor hiring decisions, including impacts on team performance, culture, and long-term business outcomes. Drawing from organizati...

Episode Description When disruption hits, teams don’t magically become calm, coordinated, and strategic; they revert to the systems and capacity they already have. That’s why crisis performance is mostly pre-crisis design . In this episode, we explore what crises do to the brain at work (attention narrows, working memory shrinks, tone gets misread, rumors fill information gaps) and what leaders ca...

AI is moving fast at work—and the biggest question on everyone’s mind is: will it replace my job, or make my job better? In this episode, Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth sit down with Matt Fleming (VP of Technology at Boyer and Associates) for a practical, no-hype conversation about what AI is actually doing inside organizations right now, and what it takes to implement it responsibly. You’l...

A play on the Olympics - the biathlon - becomes a leadership masterclass on switching between high-intensity execution and precision decision-making without letting stress hijack your accuracy. Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth break down why the transition between “go mode” and “aim mode” is where leaders and teams make the most mistakes, and how a quick reset can protect performance in high-...

In this episode of Organizational Sherlocks, Dr. Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth delve into the complexities of communication within organizations. They explore how communication issues are often misidentified and rooted in structural problems, unclear roles, and lack of goal clarity. The conversation emphasizes the importance of systems theory, role clarity, and collaborative goal setting a...

Sales isn’t just a department—it’s a set of behaviors that show up in every role. In this episode, Morgan Ashworth and Dr. Elizabeth Fleming unpack the organizational psychology behind buyer-seller dynamics, why expertise reduces perceived risk, and how clarity builds trust faster than persuasion ever will. You’ll hear practical ways to communicate value, listen for what customers actually need, a...

Organizations don’t usually repeat mistakes because people don’t care—they repeat them because knowledge gets lost, context disappears, and outdated “best practices” go unchallenged. In this episode, Morgan Ashworth and Dr. Elizabeth Fleming unpack organizational memory and why knowledge sharing is a business-critical capability for employees, managers, HR, and leaders. You’ll learn how double-loo...

In this episode, Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth break down why “multitasking” is often a myth and how rapid task switching increases cognitive load, drains mental energy, and lowers productivity. If you’re navigating organizational change, remote work complexity, or constant meeting cycles, context switching can quietly sabotage execution and adoption—even when everyone is working hard. Wha...

Season 3 starts with a practical, leader-friendly reset for 2026. Business psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Fleming and CPO/OD consultant Morgan Ashworth reflect on lessons from 2025 and unpack what actually drives organizational success when teams are restructuring, scaling, or navigating constant change. This episode connects organizational structure , change management , and leadership dynamics to th...

In this episode of Organizational Sherlocks, Dr. Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth explore how industrial-organizational (IO) psychology professionals contribute to organizational development at both granular and strategic levels. They discuss how these experts help align people with organizational goals, optimize hiring through a balance of essential and technical skills, and implement strate...

Dr. Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth of Organizational Sherlocks welcomed Dr. Travis Goodson, CEO of InnoviDefense, to discuss his unconventional path into I/O psychology, the founding and rapid growth of InnoviDefense, and the critical importance of quantifying value in the field. Dr. Goodson emphasized the significance of a niche in I/O psychology and shared military leadership principles,...

Dr. Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth of "Organizational Sherlocks" interviewed Matt Poepsel, PhD, who discussed his work at The Predictive Index and Boston College, focusing on the evolving nature of work and the importance of leadership grounded in self-awareness and purpose. They covered his "Killer Bees" concept (being, belonging, and something bigger than myself), the distinction between...

In this episode of Organizational Sherlocks, Hannah Shields a member of our team steps into the host seat to interview Dr. Elizabeth Fleming about her path into consulting and the real-world impact of I/O psychology. They explore the difference between internal and external HR roles, the challenges and rewards of solo consulting, and the power of building genuine client relationships. Elizabeth op...

In this episode of Organizational Sherlocks, we start exploring the different tracks available to Industrial-Organizational (I/O) psychology professionals. Today Morgan Ashworth is interviewed by the Organizational Sherlocks I/O behind the scenes, Darien Chismar, to examine the industry track—a path that blends psychology, business strategy, and people operations. They discuss how I/O professional...

In this episode of Organizational Sherlocks, Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth guide listeners through the diverse career options available to industrial-organizational psychologists . Using the SIOP framework , they outline paths in academia, consulting, government, and industry, sharing insights about roles, responsibilities, and practical considerations for each. The conversation highlights...