In this episode of the Psych in Business podcast, Dr. Ernest Wayde hosts a conversation with Dr. Robin Graff-Reed. Dr. Graff-Reed is a former supervisor, colleague, and friend from his days at the Department of Veterans Affairs. With over 20 years of experience leading and consulting in the second-largest government entity, Dr. Graff-Reed brings a wealth of knowledge in organizational consulting, executive coaching, and leadership development. She is currently the president-elect of the Ohio Psychological Association.

In this episode, Dr. Graff-Reed shares her unique career journey from writing to psychology and her extensive experience within the VA. The conversation dives into the importance of leadership skills, the role of psychological safety and employee engagement in workplace success, and the intricacies of change management. Dr. Graff-Reed also discusses her current role at the Ohio Psychological Association and the value of having psychologists in leadership positions.

Key Takeaways:

• Transition from Writing to Psychology: Dr. Graff-Reed's journey emphasizes the value of diverse experiences and how her background in writing enriched her psychological practice.

• Importance of Soft Skills in Leadership: Leaders must master people skills, which are often more challenging but crucial for organizational success.

• Psychological Safety and Employee Engagement: Creating a work environment where employees feel safe to speak up and engage in their roles is key to organizational success.

• Change Management: Successful change within an organization requires strong leadership and cannot be outsourced; leaders must be actively involved in the process.

• Role of Psychologists in Leadership: Psychologists bring invaluable insights into human behavior, making them essential in leadership and organizational development.

To learn more about Dr. Robin Graff-Reed, connect with her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-graff-reed-phd-0a78a895/

In this episode of the "Psych in Business" podcast, Dr. Ernest Wayde delves into the intricacies of organizational change management. We return to Dr. Emily Carter, the acting CEO of Blue River's Hospital, as she navigates the complexities of implementing a new electronic health record (EHR) system. This episode emphasizes the importance of an organizational change strategy and the pivotal role of executive leadership in successful change initiatives.

Dr. Emily Carter realizes the necessity of professional support and enlists the help of a business psychologist specializing in organizational change management. Through their collaboration, Dr. Carter learns about the Change Pyramid framework, which outlines the critical components of successful change, highlighting the need for an executive champion.

Key Takeaways:



• Organizational Change Strategy: Dr. Carter understands the importance of a comprehensive change strategy to address multiple changes at Blue River's Hospital, especially in the post-COVID business landscape.

• Executive Champion Role: The consultant explains that an executive champion is crucial for the success of any change initiative. This individual, often a senior leader, sets the direction, builds support, and ensures the change is effectively communicated and implemented.

• Change Pyramid Framework:

1. Executive Champion: At the base of the pyramid, this leader is responsible for the overall direction, resource allocation, team selection, and barrier removal.
2. Three P's: People, Processes, and Project. These elements must be managed cohesively to support the change.
3. Continuous Management: Constant risk identification, corrective action development, and effective communication are essential for successful change.

• Shared Vision: A cohesive vision for the change, communicated from the top down, ensures that every member of the organization understands and supports the change initiative.

• Professional Guidance: Dr. Carter values the expertise of the change management consultant, acknowledging the complexity of successful change and the necessity of having experienced guidance.

You can visit our website at Wayde Consulting.

In this episode of the Psych in Business podcast, Dr. Ernest Wayde hosts a conversation with Dr. Jena Booher, a business psychologist and social scientist who specializes in the tech sector. Jena is widely recognized as a strategic advisor to startups nationwide, working in industries like commercial real estate, retail marketing, and digital health and wellness. She is the founder of JEM Advisors Group. Interestingly, Jena's career began as a sales trader at JP Morgan.

Jena shares her unique journey from the finance sector to her current role in business psychology, detailing her experiences and the valuable lessons she learned along the way. The discussion covers the integration of psychology, business, and technology, focusing on how these elements can be used to improve leadership and workplace environments. The episode also delves into Jena’s work with mergers and acquisitions, cultural integration, and the challenges of scaling startups.

Key Takeaways:

• Transition from Finance to Psychology: Jena’s journey from JP Morgan to business psychology highlights the importance of pursuing passion and the invaluable lessons learned from competitive environments.
• Cultural Integration in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): Successful M&A requires prioritizing cultural integration to meet revenue and cost synergy targets, with a focus on creating a unified company identity.

• The Role of Psychology in Business: Understanding human behavior, emotions, and stories is crucial for managing complex business situations and creating lasting transformation within organizations.

• Challenges of Scaling Startups: Transitioning from startup to scale-up involves significant changes, including redefining leadership roles and maintaining agility and flexibility.

• Co-Founder Relationships: Effective communication and addressing "elephants in the room" are essential for maintaining healthy co-founder relationships and ensuring organizational success.

To learn more about Dr. Jena Booher and connect with her, visit her website: Jena Booher.