Workplace Psychology with Dr. Martha Grajdek

Diversity at the workplace is not a new topic. However, workforce diversity has been given quite a bit of attention over the last couple of years. What exactly is diversity? How should an employer approach this topic? Are benefits associated with having a diverse team? Find out the answers to these questions and much more in this episode of Workplace Psychology with Dr. Martha Grajdek.

COVID has forced new ways of life and new ways of doing business. Many organizations have had part or all of their workforce change from working at the office to working remotely. While initially, the biggest concern may have been figuring out how to connect the workforce in a way that would allow them to work from home, the next challenge pertained to structuring the workday and measuring product...

Virtual meetings, web conferences, and webinars refer to connecting with others through the use of audio and visual technology, rather than meeting in person. These ways of gathering can be an easy, convenient, and economical way to connect with others who are located anywhere around the globe. Thanks to existing technology, organizations can implement such practices to explore new ways of gatheri...

Each of us has a limited amount of time on this planet. Our time is finite, which makes it precious. This in itself is reason enough to never waste time. As such, time management is an important topic for all of us. Subject to multiple variables, time management can be examined through the lenses of many different concepts. This podcast episode looks at time management in terms of time blocking. A...

The Coronavirus has brought many changes into our lives. As summer got on the way, some of the related restrictions were loosened. We went form a lockdown to new ways of enjoying new freedom. While our own guards may have came down, the next flu season is just around the corner, and that is a good reason to get back on track. Employers and employees must come together as each works on preventing a...

The Coronavirus has brought many changes into our lives. Finding a job during a pandemic can present many challenges. Tune in to hear what considerations are of value to job seekers as they embark on this journey. Whether you’re unemployed or simply looking for something new, today’s episode brings a variety of issues to consider during these unprecedented times.

The Coronavirus has brought many changes into our lives. Hiring new employees has not been spared from the need to consider a new normal. Tune in to hear what considerations are of value to employers as they evaluate their hiring processes. Conducting virtual interviews is just the tip of the iceberg as we’re forced to consider all things COVID.

Working from home can come with its own challenges for both the employer and the employee. As the pandemic forced more people to adopt this way of working, organizations and their employees have had to find ways of making it work. This episode provides tips for employees on improving the working-from-home experience.

The health and well-being of an organization is intertwined with the health and well-being of its workforce and leadership. Mental health is part of this concept of health and well-being. Employers and employees alike are responsible for working towards achieving the best health and well-being possible. This episode focuses on employee health and well-being – specifically mental health. Several su...

Working from home has become the new norm for many. While organizations have been forced to face a wide variety of considerations regarding remote work – from properly connecting employees to the office, to managing virtual teams, to keeping employees motivated, to defining new ways of evaluating performance – employees have had to navigate these new waters as well. Developing strong self-manageme...

Reports of spikes in COVID-19 cases have presented new challenges in terms of returning to the office and re-opening businesses. Employers and employees must keep themselves informed and make decisions that contribute to the solution, rather than the problem. Where should you seek out information? What should you do? The general consensus is that many employees are hesitant to return to the office...

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced not only new levels of stress and uncertainty, but also the many consequences that come with such elevated levels of stress and uncertainty. Stress reduction is an important part of dealing with the pandemic, and physical exercise is a critical part of keeping healthy. There are many benefits associated with exercising regularly – from reducing stress and anxie...

Navigating unexpected change can be challenging. However, it doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds. There are things that managers and business leaders can do to prepare before unexpected change pops up. Also, there are things that can make navigating unexpected change less challenging while being in the midst of the change. Tune in to find out what you can do.

As the world continues to battle the pandemic, humans are faced with endless sources of stress. While some of this stress was to be expected, the unprecedented times have resulted in stressors that none of us have expected. With stress come not only increased stress levels, but also the resulting effects on our health and well-being. Scientists have now identified COVID brain as the latest effect...

Taking a vacation is not only a summer tradition for many, it’s critical for helping us to de-stress. A vacation is a way to disconnect from work and re-connect with ourselves and our loved ones. While vacation options may be limited for most of us during the pandemic, there are other, creative ways to achieve the benefits of a vacation. Take a listen for more details.

Mastering virtual meetings inspires many considerations. While the basics – such as proper equipment (think cameras and microphones) – are key, taking it to the next level calls for additional consideration. Mastering virtual meetings calls for a presentation that is not only clear and easy to understand, but also one that grabs and holds the audience. Virtual meetings have become part of everyone...

Many of today’s managers are tasked with leading teams that include both onsite and offsite team members. This is a responsibility that requires careful planning and consideration. From the most obvious to more subtle considerations, a manager must focus on keeping the group as one team, without splitting them into two separate groups – the onsite group and the remote group. Today’s episode addres...

Helping virtual teams to be more effective takes more than just good management. A team’s effectiveness depends on many contributing factors. This episode examines some ideas of how to help virtual teams be more effective through not only proper management, but also presence, planning, protocols, and resources. While, finding balance is key, flexibility and collaboration play an important role in...

Flexible work schedules allow employees to complete their work while maintaining an office presence that goes beyond the traditional 9 to 5. Flexible work schedules can be very accommodating and can benefit the company, the employee, and the customer. They can be good for morale, productivity, and business in general. When defining new schedules, creativity, collaboration, and flexibility are key.

Surviving challenging times can be difficult. This is especially true during something as big as a pandemic. Being resilient is critical to the recovery from or adjustment to any kind of change. Given that change is the only constant in this Universe, it’s in our best interest to learn how to deal with change, challenges, and new norms. This week’s episode offers suggestions to help become more re...

Managing teams is no small feat. It requires talent, effort, and planning. It can be thought of as an artform, where head and heart must find a common ground and balance each other. Successfully managing virtual teams takes it to the next level. Understanding how to leverage technology while bringing together individuals who are often separated by space, time – and potentially language and culture...

As nations around the globe start to lift the lockdown, many are faced with abandoning the safety of their homes and returning to work. It’s important to understand that events such as a pandemic may have emotional, psychological, and physical effects on people. Recognizing when we need to seek help is as important as focusing on the positives, such as our resilience. It’s critical that we look fo...

In the United States, non-essential businesses have started to re-open. The stakes are high, and there are risks associated with re-opening as much as there are risks associated with continuing the lockdown. As organizations prepare to unlock their doors, employees are preparing to get back to the office. The general consensus is that many employees are hesitant to return to the office. Many Ameri...

As the coronavirus lockdown continues, many await for restrictions to be lifted. The pandemic has forced an unprecedented business, economic, and social response. What will the post-pandemic world look like? It’s time to start defining the new normal. What will business look like? What will daily life look like? Companies and employees alike have plenty of work to do. The key is to get started as...

Social distancing, lockdowns, and quarantines have forced many to stop or at least to slow down. In essence, the pandemic has given us time. It’s up to us as business owners and as employees to use this time wisely. Whether it’s strategizing for the future of a company, figuring out the new normal, updating policies, focusing on training and other improvements, or just catching up, companies and e...