The 7 Functions And Roles Of Business Psychologists
Psychology is a discipline that arouses a lot of interest today; However, many people associate the figure of the psychologist with the clinical field, which is making the mistake of having a very simplistic view of this field.
Psychology professionals can carry out their work in different fields: sports, school or work. In the latter case, they are called business psychologists
And companies and organizations in general are contexts in which it is very useful, or sometimes even necessary, to have the services of experts in behavioral science. Therefore, here we will a review of the functions of business psychologists
Organizations are as complex as they are varied in terms of the type of activities and ways of working that can take place within them. Precisely for this reason, psychologists trained to work with leaders, companies and departments can intervene from very changing roles.
It is clear that each corporation is different, but at the end of the day, it is possible to recognize typical tasks of this professional profile when intervening in companies. So that, In what areas does the company psychologist participate? What functions does he perform? This psychology professional performs different tasks within a company.
1. Improve the work environment
The positive work environment (relations between workers, company culture, etc.) and the work environment have a great influence on the results of the organization, since companies are made up of people and they have an emotional side that is influenced by values, expectations, and aesthetic codes that the organization embodies in its design and way of functioning.
In this sense, the business psychologist is an expert in understanding the behavior of workers and their needs and is capable of influencing their behavior for the good of the organization, understanding the variables that shape the work environment of a company and establishing well-founded hypotheses about the way in which they influence workers.
A positive work environment provides benefits for the mental health of workers and keeps them motivated On the other hand, when the work environment is toxic, it can generate stress and cause a decrease in performance, and even facilitate the appearance of psychological disorders. The company psychologist can work to maintain an appropriate work environment in which the behavioral patterns of the people who make up the organization are not dysfunctional. Only in this way is it possible to allow people to be satisfied by this work context, and for the company to retain talent.
2. Job analysis and personnel selection
One of the company’s most visible jobs is personnel selection and job analysis Human capital is, without a doubt, the great driving force of the organization, and the good selection of workers who are part of the company is decisive for its results.
Classical personnel selection only took into account how the worker fit into the job taking into account his or her experience and training, but in recent times other organizational variables (for example, the climate) and the competencies they have are also valued. the candidate has (his motivation, his personality, his concerns, his experience, etc.).
The contribution of psychology is key in all phases of a personnel selection process, and psychologists actively participate when implementing a comprehensive human resources system, in which the different positions and the skills necessary for them are analyzed. With a comprehensive human resources system, personnel selection is connected to other important areas within the human resources department, such as compensation and benefits, talent detection or training.
An incorrect personnel selection process can cause worker dissatisfaction and, as a consequence, poor performance, adaptation and integration difficulties, higher turnover, higher training costs, etc.
Selecting the right staff is key when looking for a new hire, but It is often possible to train workers so that they can be promoted or perform other functions Inside the company.
In this case and many others, employee training is key not only for the company to perform better, but also for keeping employees motivated. Psychologists can train workers and, in addition, they can apply tools to detect talent or know in which areas it is necessary to train workers so that they are more competent.
4. Prevention of occupational risks
Occupational health also influences the performance of workers, and psychological aspects are key in this sense The occupational risk prevention department is multidisciplinary, and that is why it is usually made up of sociologists, psychologists and other professionals.
Business psychologists are important, for example, to reduce the impact of some psychological phenomena such as stress or burnout. In addition, they intervene when establishing workflow models that do not expose workers to unnecessary risks, and they also make assessments about ways in which workspaces could be more ergonomic.
5. Marketing
The profile of a business psychologist is very versatile, since You can also actively participate in the marketing department , both in campaign and product design. Your profile is useful, for example, to pass questionnaires and detect user needs. Emotions are a very important part of marketing, and they usually have a great influence on decision making.
6. Support to the dashboard
Psychologists are experts in interpersonal relationships, communication and leadership , so their knowledge is very valuable to senior managers. They can participate at the strategy level, training the organization’s senior management in more efficient leadership styles or evaluating their relationship with subordinates. They also help make decisions in the field of Human Resources policies, and in the field of Public Relations, which is reflected in the company’s philosophy when relating to workers, both to improve work models (taking into account the emotional and human variables in general) as the image of the organization as an entity.
Psychologists also diagnose and advise regarding workflow or work flow that is, what roles are assigned in the company, how tasks are structured within the company, how the information that supports these tasks flows, etc.
Companies are made up of people and the workflow influences them. The workflow, which aims to reduce work time and accelerate its completion, makes it possible to facilitate staff mobility, automate methods, streamline the information exchange process, improve decision making…
How does it do it and how does it influence the organization?
The business psychologist can work directly in a company or in a consultancy that provides human resources and organizational psychology services for companies that want to outsource some functions or tasks. For example, carrying out massive selection processes.
The business psychologist can plan, organize or direct the development of people, their retention, admission, evaluation of their performance or the financial compensation or remuneration they receive. She also analyzes, observes and, if necessary, intervenes in conflicts between workers, to ensure a good organizational climate.
Observe and measure physical, social and psychological aspects that affect the correct performance of employees and impact the company’s results. It uses questionnaires, interviews and other methods to evaluate phenomena such as organizational climate, productivity and employee health, and applies psychological techniques to correct possible imbalances. Intervenes and advises the management team when necessary, participates in collective negotiations and influences strategies to maximize the corporate image.
Besides, is responsible for designing and implementing training programs for staff development , as well as career and promotion plans. In general, it analyzes the needs of personnel, the job and the organization and intervenes to improve the performance of employees and the company.
