In an achievement-oriented world like that of today, people tend to fall frequently into the trap of perfectionism—a pattern of unrealistic expectations accompanied by an intense fear of failure. High standards and attention to detail could encourage success, but when perfection becomes an obligatory requirement, it may generate a more subliminal challenge: high-functioning anxiety (HFA). High-functioning anxiety is a condition …
Mentorship as Strategy: Engaging Gen Z and Building a Future-Ready Workforce
The word “mentor” comes from the character Mentor in Homer’s Odyssey. With time, the word mentor has been used to refer to someone who is a guide and educator and the notion of mentorship has always been used in positive connotations. The definition of a mentoring relation has been expanded to a “professional, working alliance in which individuals work together …
The Fear of Making the Wrong Choice: Addressing Career Indecision
Career indecision is a common yet deeply distressing experience, particularly among adolescents and young adults facing pivotal life transitions. Rooted in both psychological and environmental factors, the fear of making the wrong career choice can lead to prolonged anxiety, decreased self-esteem, and even clinical levels of distress. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of this fear is essential for developing effective interventions. …
Using Humor to Foster Psychological Safety in Teams: A Pun-derful Path to Collaboration
Psychological safety—the collective belief that a team environment allows for open, risk-free interpersonal interactions—is a cornerstone of team excellence (Edmondson, 1999). While much attention is given to practices like empathetic communication and active listening, humor often flies under the radar as a powerful ally. Used wisely, it can ease tension, strengthen bonds, and help shape a workplace where innovation and …
Humour and Diversity: Bridging Gaps in Multicultural Teams
In today’s globalized world, workplaces are increasingly diverse, uniting individuals from different cultures and perspectives. While diversity fosters creativity and innovation, it can also pose communication challenges. Humour, an often-overlooked tool, helps bridge these gaps by lightening the mood, strengthening relationships, and fostering harmony in multicultural teams. Humour is deeply ingrained in Indian culture, from chaiwalas cracking jokes with office …
Shared Laughter and Stronger Bonds: Bridging Gaps for Multigenerational Team Cohesion and Collaboration
In the context of emerging technological shifts and evolving employee expectations, today’s business highlights generational differences in their workforce, where humor remains a timeless, powerful tool for strengthening relationships and building a sense of oneness. Each organization has its unique humor and quirky phases that are regularly used. Whether it’s a Baby Boomer recalling a fax machine mishap or a …
Work-Life Integration: Women Innovating Organizational Policies for Better Balance
The way we think about balancing work and personal life has changed. Instead of keeping them strictly separate, many now see them as interconnected—an approach known as work-life integration. This shift has been especially meaningful for women, who often juggle multiple roles due to both workplace expectations and societal norms. Research in Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology shows that companies thrive when …
Redefining Leadership: The Transformational Power of Women in I/O Psychology
Leadership extends beyond authority; it is about vision, movement, and change. It nurtures growth, guides teams through uncertainty, and fosters innovation. Women are not challengers to the old but architects of the new-shaping workplaces with empathy, resilience, and transformational impact. When a woman leads with the expertise of Industrial-Organizational (I/O) psychology, she elevates leadership, introduces innovation, and redefines the future …
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Women Leaders
Imposter syndrome is not just a whisper of insecurity in a woman’s mind—it is an echo of centuries-old biases, a consequence of structures that were never built for her. It is not a personal flaw but a cultural artifact, passed down through unspoken expectations, systemic inequities, and the quiet erosion of self-belief. From childhood, women are taught to be humble, …
Hearts at Work: Examining the Implications of Romantic Relationships in Professional Settings
Romantic relationships in the workplace have become an increasingly prevalent phenomenon, owing to the substantial amount of time employees spend together and the shared challenges they navigate. According to Forbes Advisor, 2023; approximately 40-60% of all professionals will have atleast one relationship during their careers, and the majority of those relationships will go the distance to long-term commitments, such as …