Recently, Fortune Magazine released it's list of the Top 100 Best Companies to work for. As a manager of a business one imagines reading this list with a question of where am I on this list? More realistically, how can I make my company better? In order to craft plans for employee retention and satisfaction, growing productivity and improving communication one should turn to an organizational psychologist.
In her article, "Seeking Atmosphere", Psychologist Eileen Berman concludes that good leaders bring out the best in people, and that both high and low productivity can be traced back to the top of an organization (Berman, 2009). One imagines that, as a manager, this is an inspiring message. A task of an organizational Psychologist in this author's business would be help identify ways to implement a milieu that engenders loyalty and happiness in my company.
BERMAN, E. L. (2009). Seeking Atmosphere. Industrial Management, 51(2), 6.
Showing posts with label psychology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label psychology. Show all posts
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Friday, September 10, 2010
Biology and Humanism
When one applies the scientific method to the nature vs. nurture debate the biological model is compelling. At first blush, it appears less subjective. The advent of the mapping of the human genome gives us the ability to assign behavioral characteristics to defects in specific genes. In theory, a catalog of these defects or augmentations could yield a chinese menu of personality. Certainly one does not need a laboratory to log the way an individual's behavior changes under the physical effects of alcohol or drugs.
On the other hand, the argument for a humanistic study of personality is equally compelling. The idea that a path of guided introspection can yield a stronger, happier, and more content self is common desire for humanity. The fact that this practice can be empirically planned and measured lends credibility to the science of the spirit. The ability of humans to self-actualize, that is to experience spiritual growth and to achieve one's goals allows us to overcome profound physical impediments in life.
When the biologists argue that genes and synaptic functions provide the ability to introspect and spiritually grow, they are not wrong.
When the existentialists argue that the self is greater than the sum of it's parts, they are not wrong. Perhaps the most profound weakness for both biological and humanistic paths is how little we really know in either regard.
On the other hand, the argument for a humanistic study of personality is equally compelling. The idea that a path of guided introspection can yield a stronger, happier, and more content self is common desire for humanity. The fact that this practice can be empirically planned and measured lends credibility to the science of the spirit. The ability of humans to self-actualize, that is to experience spiritual growth and to achieve one's goals allows us to overcome profound physical impediments in life.
When the biologists argue that genes and synaptic functions provide the ability to introspect and spiritually grow, they are not wrong.
When the existentialists argue that the self is greater than the sum of it's parts, they are not wrong. Perhaps the most profound weakness for both biological and humanistic paths is how little we really know in either regard.
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