Jeffrey H. Axelbank, Psy.D.

Consulting Inquiry











Business and Mailing
727 Raritan Ave.
Highland Park, NJ 08904
Telephone
1-732-572-8848
Hours
By appointment only.
Directions
Click to view map (opens below).

Principles

Customized Approach

Everything that I do with you is customized. I don't use "canned" programs or workshops because one size never fits all, and often it fits no one. There is nothing so frustrating as investing time and money into a consultant and finding that they did the same thing with you as with their last client.

Instead, I always start with an assessment in which I meet with individuals and groups (determined together with you) in your organization, and sometimes observe regular meetings to identify the particular dynamics and factors affecting your situation. Only then do I recommend steps to take that are aimed at these issues, taking into account your organization's culture and specific needs.

Intervening at the Systems or Group Level

Organizational behavior can be understand at many levels. You can look at each individual's personality, interpersonal relations, group dynamics, relations between groups, or the entire organization as it appears to the outsider.

In my work, GROUPS AND SYSTEMS ARE PRIMARY. From the Boardroom to the production floor, most work is done in and by teams. Organizational life is centered around teams, whether it is a management team, a Board of Directors or Executive Committee, departments, or other groups.  And the systemic environment in which these groups operate often governs their behavior.

In organizations large and small, intervening at the systemic and group levels are the most effective way to affect organizational behavior. Even the most effective person's productivity can be stifled by a poorly functioning group. And even a top-notch team can be undermined by systemic issues.  And conversely, people reach their peak potential when they are part of a group that knows how to harness their abilities in concert with other group members.  And groups click like well-oiled machines when they address systems issues.

Groups and People Do Not Always Behave Rationally

Group behavior can be puzzling. They sometimes don't act in their own best interests. At times, group members sabotage one another's efforts, undermining the productivity of the whole team. Groups can act to stifle creativity, even though the organization's success depends on people's ingenuity.

As a psychologist, I understand these phenomena as they influence group dynamics. By observing a group's functioning, I can help to identify what is going on under the surface, and advise you how to use these dynamics to create greater success and productivity.

Slow Down to Zoom Ahead

Taking the time to reflect on what is going on may make you impatient to get to work. But not doing so only results in more of the same - a real waste of time. Using time productively to learn how people are colluding (without realizing it) to block progress can help a group zoom ahead. But it does mean investing time to create an atmosphere where things can be thought through, and communication can be productive. My job is to help you create the psychological safety that allows for group members to give one another feedback in effective ways, minimizing defensiveness.  A team that can't challenge one another will not reach its potential.

Aligning Role, Task, and Authority

A work group gets into trouble when its members' roles are not in alignment with the tasks they have to accomplish, and they don't have the authority to carry out their tasks. Sorting out these aspects of group life is one of the most effective ways to get a group unstuck and moving forward effectively, insuring success.  This can really help clear up confusion about decision-making, one of the major causes of conflict and burnout.