Michael Smyth

HR Director, GRAHAM construction

Why did you study Psychology at Queen’s?

I intended doing Economics but got lost on campus on Open Day (it was the mid-80s and the Troubles meant I’d never been to Belfast alone!).  Seeing a sign for ‘Psychology’ on the Malone Road (I really was lost) I stumbled in to ask for directions, quickly realising you could get a degree on what I did all the time – analysing people and their behaviour.  I fell in love with Psychology and never looked back.

Your career journey to date.

After a statistical research based role in local government, I joined GRAHAM in their training arm, supporting unemployed people back into work and then developing leadership programmes for graduates through to senior management.  I went on to manage that business unit for 10 years, establishing it as a key player in the N Ireland corporate training market, before taking up the position of Training Manager for the main Construction business in 2003.  From there I gradually assumed responsibility for many of the overall people functions, becoming HR Manager, Head of HR and then finally Group HR Director in 2015.

Description of your current role and how Psychology applies to it.

GRAHAM is a £Billion+ turnover organisation and its sustained, upward success is directly attributed to the talented, 2,500 workforce. 

My key objective is to develop and implement an all-encompassing People strategy, with particular focus on the 5 Pillars of Attracting, Developing, Engaging, Retaining and Leading our Talent.  

The Pandemic revolutionised the world of work, with a new emphasis on the ‘experience’ and personalisation of the employment ‘contract’.  People now expect their job to support their wellbeing, give them meaning, be inclusive and fun, whilst allowing them to contribute something outside themselves for the environment and society.

Psychology is pivotal in building this new organisational landscape, through understanding what makes people ‘tick’ and creating collective and individual experiences that deliver the behaviours businesses and people need to thrive.

I now head up an eclectic mix of specialist people departments from the traditional HR and Learning and Development, through to Wellbeing, Equality and Diversity and Social Impact. My psychological foundations are not just focused on the overall employee experience but on how to utilise it to create collaboration and synergy between these specialism leaders to create a seamless, innovative ‘One People’ delivery.

For me Psychology is simply the ‘beating heart’ of People innovation.  Its perhaps not the first thing you see but look beneath the surface and its clearly vital to the life of the organism that is any successful business.  

My favourite quote from QUB Psychology was from Kurt Lewin, who said there is nothing as practical as a good theory.  Every day I am reminded of this as I see the practical outpouring of my psychological background and learning.

Happiest memory at Queen’s Psychology?

My wife says its meeting her, but as a close second, it’s got to be getting my first-year exam results.  It showed that not only was Psychology a subject I loved, but I had a real talent for understanding behaviours and developing practical, innovative solutions to people problems.  That skill set has been the foundation and cornerstone throughout my career.

Oh, and in case you think it was all work and no play – there were some epic parties and as there was no social media its best the stories stay locked in the 80s where they belong!

Advice for yourself at uni or what advice you’d give current students.

Trust your instincts – there’s a reason you’re studying Psychology and you’ve got an insight into life and people that most others don’t have.  Its got the ability to take you wherever you want to go.

You don’t need to have a straight career path or be at a certain point in a life plan.  Its ok to try things out.  It’s been my toughest experiences that have been the catalyst for the best career growth.

Anything else…?

Never lose your curiosity about seeking to understand what makes people tick and using that for good.  Psychology based careers can be tough, as humans are not perfect but positively impacting people’ lives is an exhilarating high that’s hard to replicate.

Profile submitted June 2023