Business psychology is an exciting and thriving field. By combining the study of human behaviour and business practices, this type of psychology can boost the performance and structure of any organisation—from strategic planning to marketing and employee behaviour. If you’re looking to get into the field, it’s also a rewarding opportunity and well-paid.
By adding business psychology to the workplace, its theories and practical skills can be applied in various ways to improve the company. Just a few examples of this include assessing employees, improving work health and safety, as well as assisting with personal and interpersonal issues. Business psychology can result in a more prosperous and efficient workplace.
Business psychology is critical for all types of organisations and businesses to support, motivate, and adequately train employees, as well as foster healthier working environments. If you haven’t heard of business psychology before, you might have seen it referred to as work psychology, organisational psychology, or industrial psychology. This branch of psychology has a rich history, dating back to the 1900s—it’s been an essential tool for growing businesses for decades.
What is the role of a business psychologist?
At the core of every business are the humans that run it. This is why it’s crucial to have a business psychologist on board, as they are professionally trained to understand human behaviour, relationships, and thought processes. They are powerful tools useful in every facet of business, from management to marketing.
The key role of a business psychologist is to apply their psychological theories and concepts in a workplace environment to improve a company, large or small. For example, this could be analysing and studying employee satisfaction and mental health, then developing a strategy with the human resources department to help improve them.
A business psychologist isn’t just limited to assisting employees with mental health, either. Their role can also extend to training employees, helping with any conflict or disagreements that may arise, and customer satisfaction. Many business psychologists find that they might be hired in a marketing role, applying psychological principles to increase outreach and awareness for a new product or service.
Hiring the wrong employees or turnover can also hurt a business and cost money—that’s where a business psychologist comes in. To prevent a high turnover rate, a business psychologist can assist with interviews and help find the right candidate for a position using trusted psychological methods.
Why does every company need a business psychologist?
If you want to set up your company on the path to success, hiring a business psychologist to join your team is crucial. With a business psychologist at the forefront of your company, you can ensure that every decision and plan the company makes—no matter the department, is well-informed and backed by scientific research and data.
A business psychologist can properly evaluate a decision before it’s finalised and offer alternatives. They also ensure your organisation is working as effectively as possible whilst also maximising employee and customer satisfaction. They are critical to ensuring optimal company employee management, training, growth, and emotional intelligence. If you find that your company is struggling with any issues such as employee turnover, dissatisfaction, or interpersonal issues, a psychologist is a must.
How do you become a business psychologist?
Like with any branch of psychology, formal education is required for business psychologists. At the very minimum, a business psychologist’s position would need someone to study and obtain an undergraduate bachelor’s degree. Formally studying psychology, especially how it pertains to business, will equip you with the understanding and knowledge of different scientifically-backed theories, social structures, and counselling skills necessary for anyone looking to work as a psychologist in a workplace.
As well as the opportunity to be a business psychologist, there are various career paths and job opportunities available for them—or if you are a company looking to hire one. They can work as leadership coaches, training and development managers, marketing executives, industrial and organisational psychologists, and in human resources. Whether your company is looking for a professional to help with training new employees, counselling in the workplace, or fostering a good work culture—it’s time to invest in a business psychologist for your organisation. They can help provide an unbiased eye for areas needing improvement in your business, help put together strategies, and ensure they’re executed successfully.
