In this episode of Organizational Sherlocks, Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth welcome author and thought leader Joanne Gray to explore the concept of proactive behavior at work. They discuss how wise, intentional proactivity can improve emotional energy, reduce burnout, and build sustainable organizational systems. From defining key traits of proactive environments to offering real-life examples and leadership tips, this episode dives into how organizations can design cultures that anticipate rather than react—and why that’s a game-changer.

In this episode of Organizational Sherlocks, Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan dive into the world of formal performance management systems. Discover how Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales (BARS) and Management by Objectives using SMART goals can revolutionize your feedback process. They break down the benefits of formal reviews for data analysis and the pitfalls of rigidity, offering insights on integrating objective measures with subjective context. Learn the importance of regular check-ins, immediate feedback, and why manager training is crucial for fair evaluations at every level. Tune in to sharpen your organizational skills and solve the performance puzzle!

In this thought-provoking episode of Organizational Sherlocks, Elizabeth puts Morgan on the spot with an engaging discussion of performance management theories and how they play out in real-world organizations. From SMART goal-setting and feedback best practices to reward systems and systemic diagnostics, the duo breaks down classic and contemporary models like Goal Setting Theory, Expectancy Theory, Feedback Intervention Theory, and Systemic Performance Improvement. Tune in to hear how these theories come to life in the workplace—and what happens when things go off script.

In this episode of Organizational Sherlocks, hosts Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth dive into the complexities of performance management and corrective action in the workplace. Blending psychological insight with business practicality, they explore common challenges like misalignment, employee resistance, and the impact of a volatile job market. The duo outlines essential steps in the corrective action process, from verbal warnings to termination. While emphasizing documentation, legal considerations, and the role of leadership curiosity. Whether you’re an HR professional or a team leader, this episode offers practical tools for fostering accountability and driving organizational alignment.

In this episode of Organizational Sherlocks, we’re joined by Christian and Nick, the minds behind Personos—an AI-driven platform transforming how organizations assess personality and coach talent. We dig into how Personos blends psychological science with artificial intelligence to decode workplace behaviors, optimize development, and reimagine what it means to “know thy team.” Whether you're an I/O psychologist, coach, or curious leader, this episode will get you thinking about the next frontier in personality and performance.

This week, Morgan & Elizabeth discuss breaking down people development into bite-size, more digestable pieces of information. Your hosts give glimpses of examples within what they have experienced or witnessed, explaining how introducing one concept at a time instead of a mass training of theories and possibilities improves the impression the teachings make. Enhance people development with microlearnings, illuminating, connecting, and reinforcing modalities with hard education, experience, and coaching.

(Replay) In this episode, we’re joined by Rob McKenna, founder of Wild Leaders, to explore how trust functions as a vital tool in the workplace. In this episode we attempt to understand the core drivers of trust to help build stronger, more cohesive teams, Rob offers deep insights into fostering authentic connections and empowering leadership. We also discuss the Wild Trust Index, a powerful tool for assessing trust at personal and organizational levels, and learn practical strategies to elevate trust in your workplace. Tune in to transform your understanding of trust as a critical component of organizational success.

This week on Organizational Sherlocks, Elizabeth and Morgan dive into the complexities of organizational change, discussing how leaders can foster buy-in through proactive communication, employee involvement, and continuous feedback. They explore why resistance to change occurs and share strategies like empowering change champions and leveraging multiple communication modalities. From performance management to psychological safety, this episode examines how organizations can navigate transitions more effectively by focusing on the human experience.