Organisational Psychology
Consulting & Advisory Services
With almost 20 years of diverse experience as a Masters qualified Workplace Consulting Psychologist, I can offer valuable consulting and advisory support to those seeking a ‘safe pair of hands’.
Whether you are a small, busy People & Culture team, an organisation experiencing rapid growth, or a leader seeking specific expertise, I can help with navigating challenges and driving positive change within your organisation.
Depending on your needs, a range of different support options are available, with my work adding value in some of following ways. We might..
Outsourcing Specific Work or Projects
This option is well suited to small (or busy and overwhelmed!) HR, People & Culture, or Organisational Development teams who want to outsource specialised projects to a ‘safe pair of hands’, allowing them to focus on other key priorities. Specific roles & responsibilities can be flexible, playing to both my strengths & those already within the team.
Objective & Supportive ‘Sounding Board’
I regularly work with senior leaders and People & Culture / Organisational Development teams who recognise the value of testing & challenging their ideas, acting as a ‘sounding board’ and providing an unbiased, external and informed perspective.
Talent Management Consulting
I regularly work with medium-sized businesses who are experiencing a period of rapid growth - and suddenly need to think about talent management, employee engagement, or capability & leadership development...! I’ve also supported numerous ‘blue chip’ organisations with large-scale talent, capability & leadership development initiatives.
Organisational Psychology Expertise
I can offer expertise in specific areas relating to organisational psychology, workplace behaviour, behavioural change, and team / organisational performance, just to name a few areas. Many clients enjoy being able to ‘tap into’ my depth of expertise in organisational psychology and research backed, rigorous approach.
Independent, Objective Research & Evaluation
Reach out if you would benefit from collaborating with an objective, independent partner to conduct research, build a ‘library’ of resources or knowledge, or evaluate potential market providers (e.g. for assessment or training).
Why work with me?
In working with me, you’ll get the benefit of my insights and experience in organisational psychology, capability frameworks, leadership development, employee engagement, positive psychology, career development, talent management, psychometric assessment, behavioural change - and more.
As well as working in my own business for several years, my experience also includes sub-contracting or acting as an Associate to numerous national and global consulting firms.
For me, a key goal when working with clients is to ensure a balance between using rigorous evidence-based approaches ('best practice') and solutions that are practical and feasible in your real-life, on-the-job environment ('best practical'). Other key considerations include the longer-term sustainability and return on investment of any proposed approaches or solutions.
If this sounds like an option for you, feel free to reach out, and we can set up a time to chat!
Areas of specialisation and expertise
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With certifications in Amy Edmondson’s Fearless Organisation Scan & LeaderFactor’s 4 Stages of Psychological Safety, I can support leaders & organisations in considering their options for evaluating, exploring & strengthening levels of perceived psychological safety. I’ll also draw on my insights & expertise as a registered, Masters qualified workplace psychologist, and my experience in integrating concepts around psychological safety into various programs across the years.
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We know from research that high performing teams tend to have a number of specific attributes in common. My experience includes helping teams to evaluate the presence and importance of these factors, taking action to address those which have the strongest potential to contribute to success in their unique context & environment.
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My experience includes the design and/or delivery of numerous capability and leadership development programs. I’ve supported capability development with employees and leaders at all levels, across a broad range of industries and within both public and private sector organisations. More recently my work has focused on exploring ways to create more flexible, 'on demand' opportunities for growth, learning, and development to align with new ways of working.
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My experience also includes helping organisations to identify and explore potential challenges relating to acquiring, building, and retaining talent. I've also supported clients in identifying critical roles and exploring potential approaches to succession planning or risk management.
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Across the years I've designed, supported, or worked with a broad range of competency frameworks, and can say with absolute certainty that there is no 'one size fits all' approach. One approach that has been quite successful for smaller or medium-sized organisations is to create a capability 'library' that can be used flexibly across the end-to-end life-cycle of people activities.
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Over the years I have designed, delivered, or supported numerous programs of work aimed at identifying, defining, refreshing, ‘testing’ or embedding well-defined, meaningful and engaging organisational values. This has included guidance on a range of different approaches & considerations given where each specific organisation is 'at' in relation to their values journey.
Examples of Previous Projects…
Building a bespoke Capability ‘Library’ to support end-to-end people processes
Design of a tailored leadership capability ‘library’ to provide guidance on what “good” looks cross a broad range of roles and functions, with the aim of supporting a range of ‘people’ practices (e.g. recruitment & selection, growth & development, talent management, workforce / succession planning, etc.)
A key goal in this project was creating a framework that was robust & well considered, while also being simple enough for employees & leaders to pick up and apply immediately. Both physical and digital versions of the library were rolled out as part of a program of work supporting leaders to navigate growth & development conversations.
Developing a Talent Management Strategy & Framework
Providing consulting & advisory support for a client seeking to develop a talent management strategy that incorporated ‘best practice’ principles while also being pragmatic and actionable.
Key activities included review & consultation with key stakeholders, conducting market / industry research, evaluating options & approaches, developing an internal ‘playbook’, and providing recommendations to support planning and implementation.
Identifying & Evaluating Critical Founder Attributes
This program of work involved designing & delivering a tailored ‘success profile’ capturing the attributes of successful founders.
The client organisation was a very well regarded venture capital firm who wanted to adopt a more objective approach to evaluating & assessing these tendencies - challenging any potential biases and bringing a greater degree of rigour to the process of evaluating potential founders and making key investment decisions.
”Leisa really listens to you as a valued client and genuinely wants and does deliver over and above what you envisaged and really brings it to life. She is one of the most professional, dedicated consultants I have worked with and honestly couldn’t recommend her highly enough. If you want value, impact and delivery – then you can’t go past Leisa.”
Head of Talent - Current Client Organisation
Organisations I’ve worked with…
My Formal Qualifications & Training
Okay - here is some of the formal stuff about my qualifications & training! My qualifications include a Masters of Psychology (Organisational), Graduate Diploma in Science (Psychology), and Bachelor of Arts (Psychology). I’m a registered psychologist within Australia and hold professional memberships with the Australian Psychological Society and Australian Human Resource Institute.
I’m also accredited in a broad range of psychometric assessment tools including the Saville WAVE, OPQ, CAPP Strengths Profile, VIA Character Strengths assessment, the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, the Burke Learning Agility Inventory, and many more. With strengths in “Growth” and “Love of Learning”, I’ve also completed a number of courses in positive psychology, learning agility, well-being, and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy. Finally, I’m also accredited in Lego® Serious Play®.
