I love writing. I'm passionate about sharing knowledge.
Yes, there are times when writing is less of a joy and more of a chore, such as when I'm revising a paper for what seems like the millionth time. But most of the time, I love the process of writing: playing with words to find the best ways to express complex ideas and hoping to inspire my readers with the same enthusiasm for my subject that I have.
When you read my books, I don't want you thinking either "Huh?!" or "Ok, that's interesting, but what's the point?" So I aim for two things when writing: a style which is concise and easily understood, and an emphasis on applying theory to practice.
I've never had much patience with textbooks that try to sound clever or use 100 words where 10 would do. Yes, my subject area of work psychology is inherently complex: we're dealing with people's behaviour after all and it's not a simple thing to understand. But I think my job as a textbook author is to convey those complexities in as straightforward a manner as possible.
One of my favourite quotes is from psychologist Kurt Lewin, who said there is "nothing so practical as a good theory". For me, the whole point of learning something new is that you will be able to use that knowledge. So when I'm writing, I always try to find ways to show you how the new knowledge can be used. I include lots of examples, case studies and questions to get you thinking about further applications.
I've written two university textbooks: one about Work Psychology (now in its second edition) and one which combines Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour. I've also contributed a chapter to a book about practical psychology research.
Work Psychology in Action, 2nd Edition
The new edition of this popular, accessible and skills-oriented textbook introduces key psychological concepts and demonstrates how they come into play in the real world of work, while building strong awareness of how business priorities inform and underpin applied psychology. It combines summaries of important research studies with an exploration of topics from different international perspectives to offer students a deeper appreciation of how psychology develops and is used in the world of business.
The book takes a practical, problem-solving approach to understanding the role of psychology in the workplace and focuses on employability skills that will benefit students in their future careers. It is ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate Business and Psychology students taking modules in work psychology.
People, Management and Organizations
Human resource management and organisational behaviour are closely allied topics, with both considering how people behave at work and the best ways to manage them for organisational success. Yet many textbooks consider them separately, leaving it to the individual lecturer or student to make the links between them.
This textbook takes an integrative approach, drawing on both fields of study to develop a book that provides future managers and HR practitioners with a solid and detailed understanding of how to apply their knowledge to managing people at work.
Work Psychology in Action
Work Psychology in Action introduces key psychological concepts and demonstrates how they come into play in the real world of work, while providing you with an awareness of how business priorities inform and underpin applied psychology.
It combines summaries of important research studies with an exploration of topics from different international perspectives to give you a deeper appreciation of how psychology develops and is used around the business world.
The book takes a practical, problem-solving approach to understanding the role of psychology in the workplace and focuses on employability skills that will benefit you in your future career.
‘Who am I?’ at work and home: Authenticity and well-being in different roles
Chapter in Making a Difference with Psychology
Editors: Karen Niven, Suzan Lewis, Carolyn Kagan
This book is an accessible summary of 28 of the quirky and innovative projects funded by the Richard Benjamin Trust, each of which illustrates how psychology can make a positive difference to communities, healthcare, or workplaces. This is a popular psychology book with short punchy chapters that you can dip in and out of.
Click on the book cover to download the whole book, or download just my chapter here.
