Frederik Anseel
School of Management & Governance - PhD, Organisational Psychology | M.A Organisational Psychology | B.A Psychology
I'm a Professor of Management and Dean at UNSW Business School, Sydney. Previously, I was Vice-Dean Research at King's College London, Head of Department at Ghent University (Belgium) and I held visiting positions at ESSEC Business School (France), Bocconi University (Italy) and University of Groningen (The Netherlands). I currently serve as the President of the European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology and am an elected Fellow of the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP).
I study the motivational micro-foundations of why and how people contribute to organizational success. Recent work focuses on how individuals can overcome motivational obstacles during the innovation and entrepreneurial process to “keep their fire burning”. My research has been published in leading journals such as Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Management, Research Policy, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes and Psychological Science. My work has also been featured in media such as Harvard Business Review, BBC, Science, Nature, Psychology Today, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and The Guardian.
Apart from my work in academia, I have several years of industry experience by founding and managing two consulting firms, including one university spin-off, The Vigor Unit. Through keynotes, executive education and consultancy, I contributed to leadership development and performance management initiatives in a variety of industries such as banking, healthcare, consulting, government, energy management, and manufacturing. I have worked with executives in some of the leading business capitals in the world (London, Milan, Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Sydney). Consulting clients include Ageas, AG Insurance, Ahold, KBC, BNP Paribas, Deloitte, KPMG, RICS, Gallup, Econocom, Engie, Philips, Volvo, VPK Packaging Group.
From This Author
AI in recruitment: Coping with the flood of ChatGPT applications
AI-generated applications are reshaping hiring practices and highlight the importance of maintaining a human touch, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
Future ready research design: A framework for business impact
Future-oriented academic research drives policy planning, stakeholder engagement, and societal impact through practical design thinking principles
Why do we trust failing humans more than we trust flawless AI?
Although human behaviour fails more often than artificial intelligence, we are more forgiving of people, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
Unlocking the (massive) business value of scientific research
A new report highlights the impact of research, with UNSW Science alone adding $2 billion a year to the global economy
How AI is changing work and boosting economic productivity
AI's economic impact is becoming clearer as businesses report mixed results on productivity, raising questions about its broader effects on labour markets and inequality
Learn to say “yes”: Behind the science of luck and serendipity
Embracing opportunities and saying 'yes' can lead to long-term career development and unexpected success, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
Why do some countries dominate one specific Olympic sport?
Australia’s Olympic swimming success offers insights into talent management and economic growth, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
How algorithmic HR systems impact motivation and wellbeing
Algorithmic HR systems impact employee motivation and wellbeing, and new research explores how perceptions of these systems shape employee behaviour
Does wage transparency really close the gender pay gap?
While the goal of wage transparency is to close the gender pay gap, it can also have negative unintended impacts, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
Yoga for stress, therapy for bosses? Wellbeing programs miss the mark
Shifting the focus from individual 'fix-it' solutions to addressing systemic issues can truly improve mental wellbeing at work, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
Resilience in AI leadership: In conversation with Stela Solar
UNSW Business School Dean Frederik Anseel discusses resilience in AI leadership with Stela Solar as part of a Learn to Lead 2024 special content feature
Working the dream: How artistic entrepreneurs scale a creative business
There are a number of important considerations creative professionals need to take into account when scaling their artistic endeavors into successful businesses
Long-term investing: how an Aussie fintech start-up grows trust and success
Pearler is on a mission to alleviate financial stress through its basic investing app and focusing on trust, transparency, and thought leadership in Fintech
Selling the dream: can a strong purpose do your marketing for you?
Calling their marketing ‘unconventional’ might be putting it lightly, because until recently, Humanitix hadn’t really done any marketing at all. Or at least, not on their own
Beyond logos: why better branding means better business
Advertising expert and ad agency owner Dee Madigan explains the role sponsorships play in creating and solidifying a strong brand
Ethical marketing: how to navigate the AI moral minefield for marketers
Link Group CMO Wendy Mak digs into the ethical side of digital marketing, explaining why marketers need to be at the forefront of the conversation, and exploring how brand-new AI tools might not be as helpful as they first seem
How authentic should a business leader really be?
Good leaders actively manage their image in a way that does justice to the complexity of their identity, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
The progress principle: how climate resilience is shaping jobs of the future
Climate resilience is an increasingly important issue for organisations around the world. How will climate change transform the skills you need to do your job?
Risky business: adapting to climate change could ‘insure’ a better future
Insurance leaders are optimistic that Australia can be more resilient in a climate-challenged future, and they’re learning new ways to deal with risk to get us there
Policy in the slow lane: can we speed up change and drive down emissions?
Before we change behaviour, we need to change policy. How can we accelerate the shift to greener, cleaner vehicles, and move away from our reliance on fossil fuels?
Purple collar workers needed to drive electric vehicle manufacturing
The electric vehicle industry is surging ahead globally, and Australia needs to take definitive steps to capitalise on important opportunities – or risk being left behind
Does hybrid working really lead to less productivity?
Rather than worrying about productivity, organisations should rethink their approach to managing and leading hybrid workers, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
Do male schmoozers block females from climbing the career ladder?
Subconscious and subtle mechanisms partly explain why women still experience career progression challenges and pay gaps, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
Arrested development: young workers struggle with working from home
The rise of hybrid work is a godsend, but the youngest generation taking their first steps at work face an unknown challenge, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
This time it will be different: are the robots really coming for your job?
For certain tasks, AI outclasses experts. But the question is whether AI will be used as a replacement or in addition to work, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
Applying the science of supply chains to the art of talent management
The pandemic turned well-established supply chain and HR management strategies on their head, and there are important lessons in this for talent management professionals
The productivity divide: how AI will separate the strong from the weak
With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), the skills and capabilities needed to thrive in the workforce are rapidly changing, writes UNSW Business School's Frederik Anseel
Can digital eye contact be as engaging as real eye contact?
If two people look at each other through a camera during a Zoom meeting, UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel asks, is this as powerful as physical eye contact?
WSP's Guy Templeton: navigating challenging market conditions
Guy Templeton, CEO of WSP Asia Pacific, explains how the firm is managing a range of challenges including ESG compliance, supply chain risks and skill shortages
How the hunt for talent changes the labour market power balance
A looming showdown in the labour market is producing both winners and losers, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
Why the ability to write well is the most underrated skill
Artificial intelligence will not spell the end of writing skills; rather, the career advantage for the gifted writer only increases, writes UNSW Business School's Frederik Anseel
Why it’s so important to make people feel like they matter
With the shift to hybrid work, people have become alienated from their work because they feel anonymous and invisible, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
What's behind the rise and return of the middle manager?
It’s time to re-evaluate the middle manager because the empirical evidence for their added value is overwhelming, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
Why it’s unwise to make long-term labour market forecasts
Pundits make long-term forecasts about global labour market trends at their own peril, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
Does ‘quiet quitting’ really deserve our attention?
The trend of 'quiet quitting' probably hasn’t much substance, but its media popularity suggests it captures the zeitgeist, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
Does nudging really work? Let's look at the evidence.
The effects of nudging are probably much smaller and more situational than is often claimed, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
Behavioural economics: how nudge turned into sludge
Is it ill-will, arrogance or just incompetence? Sludge – the reverse of nudge – is everywhere, writes UNSW Business School's Frederik Anseel
Why learning ability is the skill that trumps all other skills
Businesses need to change how they approach skills in order to recruit or develop the talent they need, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
What’s really behind the sputtering supply of talent?
If every country faces the same record tight labor market, then local policy failure may not be the cause, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
How to successfully onboard new hires in the world of hybrid work
A new job sounds tempting. But in a hybrid world, starting over is damn hard, writes UNSW Business School’s Frederik Anseel
How did COVID really impact the mental health of CEOs? (part 2)
With COVID-19 still causing significant levels of disruption, CEOs need to look after their own mental health – and board directors should play an important role in the process
How did COVID really impact the mental health of CEOs? (part 1)
Many CEOs have struggled with mental health issues through COVID-19, and they need additional skills to lead themselves and their organisations safely into the future
Three useful things to know about mentally healthy workplaces
Prevention is a crucial aspect of addressing mental health in the workplace, and it starts with organisational culture, says UNSW Business School's Frederik Anseel
The Business of Mental Health
This episode unpacks how COVID-19 has digitised mental health support services
Lucy Brogden on how leaders can support their own mental health
Frederik Anseel, Professor of Management and Senior Deputy Dean (Research & Enterprise) at UNSW Business School, interviews Lucinda Brogden, National Mental Health Commission Chair and Commissioner, about the importance of leaders looking after their own mental health
Lucinda Brogden: how leaders can improve workplace mental health
As Australia adapts to living with COVID-19, leaders must move away from yoga and fruit bowls and focus on job design to genuinely support workplace mental health, says National Mental Health Commission Chair Lucinda Brogden
Do individualised work arrangements benefit firms? Yes, but not without strong HR practices
Individualised work arrangements will not only persuade individuals to come and work for an employer, but will also lead to better firm performance, writes UNSW Business School's Frederik Anseel
Behind Macquarie Telecom Group's industry-leading net promoter score
Frederik Anseel, Professor of Management and Associate Dean Research for UNSW Business School, interviews David Tudehope, co-founder and CEO at Macquarie Telecom, about the company's industry-leading NPS and award-winning customer engagement strategy
How has COVID changed the way we should collaborate and innovate?
Organisations need to adopt a specific approach to hybrid working in order to improve collaboration, communication, productivity and innovation
Are hybrid work models good for diversity and inclusion? Not necessarily
A hybrid work model isn’t automatically better for the purposes of diversity and inclusion. That's up to management to determine, say UNSW Business School academics
What was the real impact of COVID-19 on our mental health?
A new research review suggests people’s psychological immune system is strong enough to overcome the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
How Macquarie Telecom Group creates the world's best customer experience
David Tudehope, co-founder and CEO at Macquarie Telecom Group, says a completely transparent and brutally honest approach to customer service has been critical to its industry-leading net promoter scores and award-winning customer experience
How investors and entrepreneurs can successfully play the forecasting game
Entrepreneurs are not the naïve dreamers that investors assume them to be, according to new research which has important implications for both entrepreneurs and venture capitalists
How COVID-19 could accelerate the rise of smart cities
The dramatic changes to the workforce brought about by organisational responses to COVID-19 will likely accelerate the shift to smart cities, according to UNSW Sydney
How big tech companies are adapting their workforces for the future
There are a number of important lessons for leaders who are looking to maximise productivity and engagement with employees who work from home in the long-term
Four essential elements for higher education's future success
COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of continued education – researchers and business must now work together to embrace the opportunities the pandemic presents and generate growth for the future
Six important ways COVID-19 has changed the workplace for good
A new study sheds light on exactly how workplaces are changing during COVID-19, and the steps business leaders can take to ensure employees adapt effectively
The Business Of Resilient Leadership
This episode examines the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the valuable lessons it provides business leaders on how to build and nurture a culture of resilience and innovation within their organisations
How can organisations improve employees' psychological safety?
Employees' psychological safety is under threat in times of crisis such as COVID-19, but there are steps leaders can take to help their employees feel safe again, according to UNSW Business School's Professor Frederik Anseel
Rebuilding psychological safety in the workplace post-coronavirus
Employee mental health and organisational outcomes are at risk but there are steps business leaders can take to reinforce psychological safety in the workplace, according to UNSW Business School's Frederik Anseel
Coronavirus mental health crisis: 5 ways leaders can help
There are five ways business leaders can help those struggling with mental health through the coronavirus pandemic, according to UNSW Business School experts
4 ways to improve employee wellbeing post-coronavirus
Business leaders should do these four things to help improve psychological resilience and employee wellbeing post-coronavirus, according to UNSW Business School
How can leaders improve employee wellbeing through a crisis?
There are a number of ways business leaders can help improve psychological resilience and employee wellbeing post-coronavirus, according to Professor Frederik Anseel, Associate Dean of Research at UNSW Business School
5 keys to working from home effectively through coronavirus
Maintaining productivity, health and wellbeing during the coronavirus lockdown has been a tricky task for many, but past research into adapting positively to working from home offers some reassurance, according to UNSW remote working experts
3 lessons from the GFC in how to lead through the coronavirus crisis
There are three lessons to be learned from the GFC that will help leaders in managing through the coronavirus crisis, according to a UNSW Business School expert.