With a focus on leadership potential and how we can get the best out of ourselves as individuals and together, Michelle Morrison has arrived at Monash Health at just the right time.
As an organisational psychologist with a strong track record in health, our new Director of Organisation Capability is right behind the development of our workplace strategy.
Michelle is a Fellow of the College of Organisational Psychologists and has worked to build capability with organisations like the Department of Education, PwC, Aurecon, and Alfred Health and institutions including London Business School, McKinsey and AGSM.
As an Organisational Psychologist, Michelle applies psychological principles and research to improve the work environment, including performance, communication, professional satisfaction and safety – but leadership is her passion.
Michelle is excited to work alongside an ‘A-Team’ within People and Culture to unlock potential across Monash Health. “It’s an opportunity to make a real difference and people have been kind, supportive, inclusive and very encouraging.”
Michelle has had a deep interest in systems design and transformation throughout her career.
“We’re all connected to one another within the entity of Monash Health,” Michelle says. “Within that context, there are social systems that are both formal and informal. There are procedural systems about the way things work, and how we map our work.”
Michelle explains that understanding not only what we do, but how we do it within systems allows us to intervene and innovate new pathways. “A transformational change isn’t incremental; it comes at a branching moment when we shift a pathway.”
Unlocking potential often begins by defining purpose and shared meaning, says Michelle. “Once we have clarity around what matters, we can start asking important questions like ‘What are my strengths? What’s my unrealised potential? How can we make the most impact? And what’s possible if we put our heads together to capture synergies’ It’s about encouraging people to question those old stories, about ourselves and our organisations, that become self-limiting beliefs.”
Michelle explains that the stories we tell ourselves about our potential are instrumental in shaping how we take in the world.
“Often, these stories have been offered to us by others,” she says. “But we have an opportunity to rethink those stories and be the author of our own leadership.”
As well as a wealth of skills and expertise, Michelle brings a passion for social good to her new role.
“We’re working in an important place at an important time,” she says. “I’m excited to work with people who are not only experts in their fields, but who also apply their expertise at the highest level. Engaging with capable, committed, energised people to do my work is an opportunity to create beautiful work, which I feel truly proud of as a practitioner.”
Please say hello and make Michelle feel welcome!
Approved by Chris McLoughlin, Executive Director, People and Culture