Meet SIOP Member and Fellow Rodney Lowman, Visiting Professor at University of Johannesburg, South Africa and President, Lowman & Richardson/Consulting Psychologists, PC.
Name
Rodney L. Lowman
Position/Employer
Visiting Professor, Dept. of Industrial-Organizational Psychology and People Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa and President, Lowman & Richardson/Consulting Psychologists, PC
How long have you been a SIOP member?
45 years, current SIOP Fellow
What roles have you had within SIOP?
Chair, Professional Affairs Committee; APA Council Rep. (2 terms); Member Executive Board and Committee Chair Rep.; 3 terms; Editor of four editions of the SIOP/APA Ethics Casebook
Interest area(s)
Ethical Issues in I-O and Consulting Psychology Research and Practice; Career Assessment Using the Inter-Domain (Interests-Abilities-Personality) Model
What sparked your interest in I-O psychology?
When I left the military (back when you had to serve), I went back to college to get a second bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Oklahoma (the first having been in Business at Oklahoma State University) One of my professors at OU said I should go into I-O since I had these two areas of specialization. They didn’t offer I-O then and I can’t say I knew a whole lot about the field, but I applied to multiple doctoral programs, got into all but one of them, and went to Michigan State University. There I worked with Frank Schmidt, Neal Schmitt, and several other professors. I also was mentored by Carl Frost, a clinical psychologist by training who had left that field to work at MIT with Joe Scanlon (a participative management expert) and Douglas McGregor (of Theory X and Theory Y fame). He was hired by Michigan State University, the nation’s first land grant university, to bring the same kind of consulting services to Michigan industry as MSU had been providing to Michigan farmers. Frost would bring graduate students along with him to the companies with which he consulted; some of us were subsequently given consulting assignments. Between the rigorous training in science and in practice I learned a lot about I-O psychology at MSU.
What role do you see I-O psychology playing in the future of work?
I-O psychology combines rigorous science with research-advised assessments and interventions. We have I-O psychologists who are experts in a wide range of work-related topics including, for example, work design, conflict management and avoidance, occupational mental health, leadership, coaching, and organizational change and development. We also know how to work with experts from other areas of expertise. Those involved with the future of work would do well to make sure there are I-O psychologists at the table.
What work trends are you seeing and hearing about and how can I-O psychology practitioners, educators, and students impact these trends?
Younger generations are looking for more flexibility in their work and incomes that will allow them to buy homes and raise families. Those at the other end of the spectrum are not always eager to leave the workforce as long as they can continue do the job effectively. As for future trends, there is no question that Artificial Intelligence will change how work gets done; I-O psychologists can help with that. Demographics also matter. Men continue to graduate from college at lower rates than do women with potential long-term effects since those not finishing a four-year degree will also not be attending graduate or professional school. Many professions that were once dominated by men are moving in the opposite directions. Ethical issues in the workplace will likely also skyrocket in the next few years as active efforts are being made to promulgate radical change in government and in the private sector. In short, I-O psychologists should have a lot of opportunities for the foreseeable future.
What advice would you give to students or those early in their career?
1) Do not prematurely specialize. Learn everything you can about every area of I-O psychology; you can sort out later what you like best and least.
2) Learn how to apply your expertise to a variety of applications. Deep mastery in at least one or two areas is important, but keep an eye open on other applications or opportunities so that you can change directions if circumstances require it.
3) Try to get a number of practicums and internships so that you can learn how I-O knowledge is applied in real life.
4) Look beyond I-O psychology for your knowledge base. Learn from areas like cognitive psychology and genetics.
5) Learn how to “speak truth to power” (preferably without getting fired. In meetings, have something (worthwhile) to say. Help the team.
6) Manage your interpersonal skills and deficits. Get along with people, support your peers, volunteer to help others, be interested in others.
What is one of your favorite SIOP Annual Conference memories/highlights?
When I was newer to the field, we graduate students and early career folks would try to learn the location of the best parties (the ones with free liquor and best food) and make the rounds to as many as we could. Later on, that became less important, but the conference remains a place to catch up with old friends and colleagues and to learn the latest and greatest in the field.
One of my favorite conferences was the one held in San Diego, my hometown, which happened to be the one where I was recognized for earning Fellowship status. That was special.
I’ve been to a lot of conferences all over the world, but the SIOP Annual Conference remains one of the reliably best. It’s a place where science and knowledge are taken seriously, and where there is always something new to learn. I always make it a point to go to some presentations about which I know very little. That keeps me intellectually humble and feeds my curiosity.
Please share one non-I-O-related bit of information about yourself.
My wife and I are avid travelers. Depending on whose definition of a country is being used, we’ve been so far to over 110 countries including every country in South America, Central America, North America, and most of the European and Pacific Rim countries. Since retiring from one of my academic jobs I’ve taken up creative writing, so far writing poetry, including a number of published pieces (and if you think it’s hard to get something published in I-O psychology journals, try creative writing!).
Is there anything you would like to add?
I’m now serving my third term on the Council of Representatives of the American Psychological Association which also includes being a member of SIOP’s Executive Board. I strongly recommend to SIOP Members and Associates that you volunteer for SIOP’s committees and those of other professional associations. You get to work with great people on important issues.
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