Workplace Psychology: Boosting Performance and Wellbeing (online)



Overview

An Introduction to Workplace Psychology

Explore the drivers of behaviour, what motivates individuals, and how team dynamics influence performance, with the aim of helping you bring out the best in others.

Drawing on workplace psychology, this course offers practical strategies to enhance how you lead, support and collaborate with colleagues. You’ll look at ways to boost motivation, reduce burnout and build a healthier, more productive environment – for everyone, including yourself.

People bring their talents, skills and enthusiasm to work, but they may not choose to deploy them there. The course highlights how creating the right conditions for engagement and resilience can lead to better outcomes for individuals and organisations alike.

This course is ideal for anyone who works with people, particularly those leading teams, shaping working environments or looking to inspire and support others more effectively.

You’ll explore how to unlock people’s motivation and potential, and build the conditions for greater fulfillment and purpose at work. We’ll look at behaviour across three key levels:

  • The Individual: more focus, less pressure

    • Understand how to balance work, life and wellbeing more effectively
    • Turn pressure into motivation, reframe negative scenarios in healthier ways and become less stressed
    • Identify personal habits and behaviours that may be limiting success
  • The Team: more collaboration, less conflict
    • Understand how to work more effectively with different personalities and perspectives
    • Recognise the common causes of team tension and how to reduce them
    • Build the habits that support stronger communication, trust and team cohesion

  • The Place: more connectedness, less disruption

    • Explore how our physical and online work environments shape behaviour, connection and performance
    • Create a working environment that supports wellbeing, productivity and long-term development

Programme details

Workplaces are full of pressure points – from long hours to managing relationships across in-person and remote teams. This course introduces techniques to help you deal with those challenges more effectively. You’ll also explore how to maintain motivation and look after your own wellbeing, recognising that physical and mental health are key to sustainable performance.

Key themes:

  • How expectations around work affect physical and emotional wellbeing
  • How diversity influences workplace behaviour and team dynamics
  • The advantages and disadvantages of different workspaces, including remote and hybrid environments

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

  • Recognise some of the psychological factors that impact success and wellbeing in the workplace
  • Evaluate and address potential pressure points in your work or team environment
  • Understand how hybrid and physical workspaces affect engagement and outcomes
  • Apply practical strategies to support healthier, more effective working

Dates, Times and Delivery

Sessions will be held over Microsoft Teams.

The course will be delivered in four sessions:

  • Three 1.5-hour workshops on Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24, and Friday 26 September 2025 from 2-3:30pm (UK time)
  • A 1- to 1.5-hour case study group activity on Thursday 25 September 2025 from 2-3:30pm (UK time)

You may be grouped into a smaller team for this case study activity and analysis.

To support the online sessions, you should actively engage in offline activities, such as the introductory tasks. Please build in extra time around each online session to allow for technical issues.

A world clock, and time zone converter can be found here: https://bit.ly/3bSPu6D

This is a ‘virtual classroom’ course. To replicate the experience of a classroom, the sessions are live and are not recorded.

No attendance at Oxford is required and you do not need to purchase any software.

Accessing Your Online Course

Details about accessing the private MS Teams course site will be emailed to you during the week prior to the course commencing.  

Please get in touch if you have not received this information within three working days of the course start date. 

Certification

In order to be eligible for a certificate of attendance, you will need to attend the whole course. Participants who meet this criterion will be emailed after the end of the course with a link, and instructions on how to access their University of Oxford digital certificate.

The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate, as well as share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £535.00

Payment

Fees include electronic copies of course materials.

All courses are VAT exempt.

Please note that places are subject to availability, with classes limited to 20 people.

Register immediately online 

Click the 'Book now' button on this webpage. Payment by credit or debit card is required.

Tutor

Dr Jane Pollock

Independent Consultant and Researcher

Jane is a Chartered Psychologist, an Independent Consultant in Organisational Psychology, and a tutor and lecturer in Psychology and Statistics. She has a history of highly successful courses in both Psychology and Business streams, and takes a practical approach to a subject crucial to the success of people in organisations.

Application

If you would like to discuss your application or any part of the application process before applying, please click the 'Ask a question' button at the top of this page.

IT requirements

This course is delivered online using Microsoft Teams. You will be required to follow and implement the instructions we send you to fully access Microsoft Teams on the University of Oxford's secure IT network.

To participate you must be familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet. You will also need regular access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification.

It is advised to use headphones with working speakers and microphone.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support