The Leadership Psychologist. Dr Elaine Smith.

The Leadership Psychologist. Dr Elaine Smith. Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from The Leadership Psychologist. Dr Elaine Smith., Mental Health Service, 5 South Charlotte Street (for correspondence), Edinburgh.

Dr. Elaine Smith | HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist | Helping leaders cultivate compassion in the workplace | Creating resilient, high-performing teams with a psychological edge.

This is exactly why we must prioritise our sense of psychological and physical safety in the workplace.If you are in sur...
15/11/2025

This is exactly why we must prioritise our sense of psychological and physical safety in the workplace.

If you are in survival mode, performance can plummet and it can impact on your mental health.

Every interaction we have is important, especially with leaders because of the power imbalance.

We often place more weight on a leader/manager's word or actions because deep down we might be afraid of disappointing them, or even losing our job.

Praise can also act as a 🥕and we can become embroiled in a cvcle of praise and reassurance seeking ♻️.

But if we feel truly safe and seen, fear reduces and performance is boosted.

Win. win.

This is even more important for employees who may have experienced past trauma.

So will we work towards a safe, nurturing workplace or will we keep driving the focus on performance, which often has the opposite effect?

I need to have a word with you.- here is THE tap on the shoulder - Are you waiting to be told you're not good enough? On...
14/11/2025

I need to have a word with you.

- here is THE tap on the shoulder -

Are you waiting to be told you're not good enough?

One of the great things about my job is that when I read a book, I read it for me and I read it to support the clients and the leaders that I work with.

There's no us and them.

Much of the work I do also applies to me.

📕📘📗📕📘📗

This book by Dr. Jessamy Hibberd was recommended to me. I will share any nuggets of wisdom.

What's your experience of feeling like an impostor?

It comes up SO much in the work that I do.

Me reading about imposter syndrome to support others who feel like an imposter feels very meta and/or ironic!!

Boundaries Boundaries Boundaries Boundaries BoundariesBoundaries Boundaries Boundaries Boundaries BoundariesORBurnout --...
13/11/2025

Boundaries
Boundaries
Boundaries
Boundaries
Boundaries
Boundaries
Boundaries
Boundaries
Boundaries
Boundaries

OR

Burnout

---‐-----------------------------------------------------------
👋 High achievers, perfectionists, people pleasers, unrelenting high standards people - I see you 👀

Every time you say no to someone else, you say yes to yourself. And vice versa.

We are not talking about everyday, reasonable requests here, but the 'above and beyond', afraid to say no, automatic yes then oops what did I get into type scenarios.

Nobody wins if we take on too much.

Know your limits.

Get to know that feeling when a 'yes' doesn't sit right.

That means it is a no.

People are magic 🪄Today , I had the pleasure of facilitating a session for Sasi Venables Chartered FCIPD and her amazing...
12/11/2025

People are magic 🪄

Today , I had the pleasure of facilitating a session for Sasi Venables Chartered FCIPD and her amazing The HR Confidence Club - Confidently Stacked™.

The topic was:

❄️Winter Wellbeing:
The Science ofStress❄️

We covered:
- The Stress Curve
- CFT 3 Circles
- Seasonal Affective Disorder
- Pressure of Christmas
- Mini Winter Wellbeing Plan

What a lovely group of people. So interested, engaged and warm.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I always appreciate people giving up precious time to attend.

Sasi is creating waves in supporting the wonderful HR people who do a very difficult job. I salute all of you 🙏.

🎄Need a winter wellbeing boost for your team?

I love facilitating these workshops and have a couple of dates available before Christmas. Booking link in stories.

Ps. Everyone needs this cushion!


&d

11/11/2025

Who supports the leaders?

I do.

11/11/2025

The late nights, the constant decisions, the fear of failure. We need to talk about how heavy entrepreneurship can feel.

I wrote Why Don’t You Get a Real Job? as your pocket companion for those moments of stress, burnout, or self-doubt.

Written with compassion, humour, and psychological insight, it’s here to remind you - you’re not alone, and you can thrive.

💙 Available now - the link is in bio.

Sometimes true leadership looks like less.But it's more. Thank you 🙏
11/11/2025

Sometimes true leadership looks like less.

But it's more.



Thank you 🙏

Pumped up, or pi**ed off?How has Monday made you feel?Do you feel uplifted, or drained by your working day?You'll see th...
10/11/2025

Pumped up, or pi**ed off?

How has Monday made you feel?

Do you feel uplifted, or drained by your working day?

You'll see the workplace wellbeing wheel below.

How FULL does each segment feel for you?

To work out what needs attention, we need to answer the questions.

Then we need to take action 🎯

I love to support people with this process.

Offering the space, support and confidence to speak up and reduce that work dread.

Life is too short, and together we can improve your situation 🙏❤️

Mistakes happen.Bigger mistakes happen when we can't speak up about early mistakes.And sometimes this can lead to the mo...
09/11/2025

Mistakes happen.

Bigger mistakes happen when we can't speak up about early mistakes.

And sometimes this can lead to the most tragic consequences, as we have seen in healthcare and aviation.

So if you don't feel safe to speak up about making mistakes, your workplace may not have a culture of psychological safety.

Fear driven leadership can lead to more errors and exits.

Have you ever made a mistake and felt too afraid to speak up at work?

Do you sit WITH people in their pain, or do you find yourself trying to push it away?What do YOU need in moments of dist...
08/11/2025

Do you sit WITH people in their pain, or do you find yourself trying to push it away?

What do YOU need in moments of distress? How does that help guide how you respond to others in distress?

Are we reacting to our discomfort before their need?

Sometimes all we need is to be heard. I know it sounds cheesy and perhaps overused. BUT IT'S TRUE.

Heart racing?Waking up in the middle of the night?Dreading work?Struggling to enjoy time off work?Do you need a weekend ...
07/11/2025

Heart racing?

Waking up in the middle of the night?

Dreading work?

Struggling to enjoy time off work?

Do you need a weekend reset?

Some simple techniques to reset your nervous system ahead of whatever life and work throws at you next week and beyond.

For less than the price of a takeaway, you can reclaim calm and clarity in your body and mind.

⬇️

To purchase the Leader's Stress Reset Tool, see link in bio 🔗



And of course, the opposite is true.When we feel unsafe or threatened in any way our work performance can be significant...
07/11/2025

And of course, the opposite is true.

When we feel unsafe or threatened in any way our work performance can be significantly impacted.

We can't focus properly because our brain is scanning the environment for danger - that facial expression, short email or specific tone of voice.

When we feel supported, safe, and relaxed we are more creative and productive.

It is not to say there are no difficult conversations or that this is the 'soft' approach.

We are talking no fear driven culture, with clear boundaries, clear job descriptions and competent management.

Plus, supporting employees to feel safe and relaxed is just the right thing to do.

Of course there are stressors at work, but when we feel truly safe and supported, the impact can reduce significantly.

Address

5 South Charlotte Street (for Correspondence)
Edinburgh
EH24AN

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 5pm - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 8pm

Telephone

+441312619191

Website

https://drelainesmith.thinkific.com/courses/creating-compassionate-workplaces-1YearAcces

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