Applied psychology provides valuable insights for leadership development, including when individuals transition into supervisory roles for the first time. This presentation highlights how psychological science was applied in practice through a collaboration between the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS).
The initiative engaged newly promoted UN security sergeants, men and women from diverse cultural backgrounds, who were assuming supervisory responsibilities in a high-stakes, multicultural environment. To support their development as leaders, IAAP delivered a workshop focused on listening and feedback.
Grounded in research, the workshop emphasized active listening and constructive feedback as essential supervisory skills. Participants explored why listening can be difficult, how to strengthen active listening, and the characteristics of effective feedback. Practical models for delivering feedback were introduced, linking the science of leadership to participants' supervisory challenges.
The training underscored how applied psychology can strengthen leadership capacity where effective communication is vital not only for organizational performance, team cohesion, and individual well-being, but also for those security supervisors interact with daily. Visitors, dignitaries, diplomats, and others ultimately benefit when supervisors are better equipped to listen, respond constructively, and lead effectively. The initiative also highlighted how psychology can be applied in contexts not traditionally associated with the discipline, such as leadership development within multilateral security operations. It showed the value of partnerships between psychology organizations and UN entities, bringing psychological science to audiences who may not otherwise have direct access.
This case illustrates the power of applied psychology to inform leadership development in demanding contexts and to bridge the gap between research and practice on a global stage.