Call for Proposals

NEW Important Deadlines

August 14, 2023: Concurrent & Workshop Proposals Due
September 29, 2023: Poster Proposals Due

 

 

2024 SCP Annual Conference

 

Theme: Enduring Lessons of Consulting Psychology

Call for Proposals

As psychologists who work in the organizational and leadership development space, we provide a unique value based upon our education, experience, and skills in human relationships, systems, and facilitating meaningful change.

We are optimally equipped to help leaders, organizations, and teams enhance their effectiveness, achieve improved outcomes, increase their relationship and influencing abilities, and maximize people’s potential. Our education, experience, and skills in assessment and intervention are rooted in psychological theory and evidence-based practices.

This is what makes us stand out. Let’s celebrate our uniqueness as psychologists and experts in human behavior as we convene again to connect with and learn from each other. Let’s take the time to explore our roots while discovering what is new in our field.

This year, our mid-winter conference celebrates the enduring lessons that inform the practice of consulting psychology. We honor many of the legends in our field, such as the late Harry Levinson and Edgar Schein, as well as those psychologists that have informed our consulting work, such as Aaron Beck, Carol Dweck, and Daniel Kahneman (to name just a few). We reflect back on their presence in our community and continue to learn from their prolific contributions to our field.

This year, we reflect on the deep roots that anchor the tree of consulting psychology as we continue to grow upward and blossom. Our keynote speakers will each share some of the enduring lessons of leadership that they have experienced in their careers.

Please consider submitting a proposal, nominating a presenter that would add value to this conference, and/or sharing this announcement with colleagues from your network. To stimulate ideas for proposal submissions relevant to the theme, consider the following topics:

• Assessment

• Community

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

• Business development and skill development for your practice

• Research-Based practices and results

• Stakeholder Well-Being

• Student Resources

• Techniques/Methods – building your toolbox

• Facilitating meaningful and lasting change in individuals, teams, and organizations

• Uncertainty and Disruption Management

Assessment – A cornerstone of our work in organizations is individual, team, and organizational assessment, whether for selection, development, placement, effectiveness, or succession. Specialized tools and selection methods broadly or in specific industries will be considered.

Community: The ways that communities influence organizations and organizations influence communities are increasingly pertinent to organizational consulting. Discussions of how the concept of community is evolving, how organizations and communities coexist, and how consultants may make an impact will be considered. Service in the community, corporate social responsibility, and ethics are also topics of interest.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – While there is a revitalized interest in the role that diversity and belonging play in society and the workplace, the future holds space for innovative ways to develop authentic connections that bring us closer to self-actualization as individuals. As professionals seeking to come together with a common purpose and mission, we strive to train the trainer and increase our understanding of others’ perspectives, including the long-standing effects of trauma experienced amongst marginalized groups.

Proposals addressing equity within the workplace, inclusive leadership, recruiting and supporting diverse teams, and the many other challenges that underrepresented groups face–especially at the executive level–are essential topics that are encouraged. We welcome case studies or research that address the unique leadership challenges of marginalized groups (people with disabilities, immigrants or ex-pats, language minorities, orientation, age, etc.).

Practice and Skill Development – There are as many paths to consulting psychology as there are members of SCP, and while we all love to learn new techniques and methods, our impact is limited by our own skill sets as business owners. Proposals in this category include skills a consultant at any level can use to improve their practice development. This includes but is not limited to contracting, marketing strategy, social media, tools, and technology. Proposals integrating ethics considerations into this area will be considered a plus.

Research results – Proposals promoting consulting psychology as a science, profession, and catalyst for effective growth and change are critical to SCPs mission. Case studies and relevant research results create a vibrant area for shared learning.

Stakeholder Well-Being – Organizations today are more concerned than ever about the well-being of the humans in their stakeholder networks– Many are taking a keen interest in the practices, conditions, and environments that facilitate a healthy and vibrant workplace concurrent with supporting well-being and organizational effectiveness. We invite transformative human-centered approaches to organizational change to define and create these conditions.

Student Resources – The future of SCP and consulting psychology as a whole depends on our ability to bring students into the SCP community and not only support their growth and learning but engage them as active members of leadership. Proposals designed to address student needs or deepen their engagement with the SCP community are encouraged.

Techniques/Methods – This broad category invites discussion of new developments, instruments, and methods for working with clients. A combination of data and a strong theoretical foundation would be most interesting when considering submitting to this category. It is an opportunity to discuss new approaches or out-of-the-box thinking. Process-oriented proposals that create experiential learning opportunities are also encouraged.

Uncertainty and Disruption Management – Leading during times of disruption comes in many forms and is not new to leadership practice. Of particular interest is how leaders in severely disrupted industries such as healthcare, hospitality, education, and others have adjusted, created new ways of leading, or handled the challenges that accompany disruption. Proposals that advance our understanding of resiliency- a system’s capacity to return to its original state after a disruption, the conditions that enable returning to pre-disruption states, adjustments to permanent changes caused by disruptions, or processes used to manage them are of interest as they apply to organizations, teams, and individuals are welcome.

We will always consider proposals in other areas that expand the knowledge base of our profession and align with SCP Values. https://www.societyofconsultingpsychology.org/about-scp/ .