Maria Paviour Consulting

The Optimism Method is a progressive process carried out step-by-step

Maria Paviour’s Optimism Method leverages biological science, data and an appropriate degree of empowerment for your people at every level, making it naturally flexible and adaptable to suit businesses from SMEs to Global corporations.

We have developed our Optimism Method to respond to the real and present needs that organisations face in today's world; to have an agile response to uncertainty and for the need to balance robust and prudent financial decisions with compassion and care for people.

The Optimism Method is for everyone - it helps to tip the people system upside down, and make a sustainable and future proofed culture that serves the business, the people and society. We encourage business leaders and People Professionals, like you, to empower themselves with this system, embedding it in business as usual without dependency upon us, at Optimism Consulting. We see our role as the catalysts for humane cultures and sustainable and meaningful change; and to be there to support you; because, as our research has proven, you are the expert in your business.

This is what we do, and how we do it:

Step 1: Explore

How culture, leadership and systems shape business performance.

How?Looking at the key 3 cultural layers through our proprietary Human Capital Intel (HCI) Audit.

Why? Because your culture is created and evolved differently at different levels. Without clarity you risk the wrong messages unconsciously promoting the wrong cultural outcomes. When you have clarity, it is easy to make tiny tweaks and achieve your business outcomes with a high performing healthy 'Phoenix' culture.

Step 2: Capture

Finance grade people data (or Human Capital Intelligence)

How? Providing a balance sheet of People Liabilities/Risks, People Assets/Value creation and People Equity / Return on Investment with coherent data that sees behind the brave face.

Why? Because finance keeps score, but your people are ‘playing the game’, your excellent finance data drives your business aspirations, but you risk being unable ensure people performance will deliver. With high quality people and financial data you set the business up for success financially, in delivering your services, and for your people.

Step 3: Report

The cause, effect and impact on your business of psychological adaptation (AKA Brave Face Syndrome), presenteeism and cognitive overload.

How? Using the unique Cari software which measures dynamic levels of engagement, wellbeing and cognitive capacity.

Why? Because your people’s ability to add value is dependent upon a cocktail of psychological factors. Lag survey data may tell you what has happened but you risk being unable to act responsively. Live data that sees behind the brave face enables you to take early preventative action and reduce costs of absence and burnout.

Step 4: Leverage

The Engagement, Wellbeing and Performance Cycle for evidence-based strategy and tactics that increase productivity.

How? By providing leaders, managers and employees with role-relevant Cari data dashboards and upskilling leaders and managers with the intel-based 'lead and respond' approach as appropriate, through Executive Coaching and Management Development.

Why? Because the evidence shows that with the data at your fingertips and an understanding of the EWP cycle you can drive high levels of value creation, significantly reduce risk and costs. The EWP cycle impacts employee and business performance regardless of whether you are aware of it or measure it. Without understanding EWP you risk missing key performance factors in strategy and tactics; whereas performance and productivity can be greatly enhanced when leveraging the EWP process and incorporating this into planning and actions.

Step 5: Apply

To operationalise, maintain and support with maximum empowerment and minimum dependency

How? Using real-time, coherent, decision-making intel to drive measurable business performance improvements and applying our 3S (Small, Slow, Safe) approach’; with ‘democratisation' of data collection that increases participation and minimises workload and escalation to HR.

Why? Because you need to prove ROI from initiatives and interventions and ensure that HR can effectively target resources proactively and preventatively where they are needed. Top down, rapid deployment risks rolling out high cost initiatives and technology with your fingers crossed. This also risks overwhelming HR and undermining engagement and participation. Whereas the 3S Optimism Method tests and demonstrates before you roll out, to ensure business, financial and psychological safety.

How we help our clients.

People Strategy.

Strategic support for productivity and financial improvement.

Executive/Leader Development.

Developing leaders who inspire, perform and build strong teams.

Career Progression.

Empowering your people to grow with purpose and confidence.

Culture evolution.

Driving high performance cultures that champions diversity, neurodivergence, and inclusion.

Management Development.

Combining data and capability to protect wellbeing, build engagement and create value.

Coaching.

Supporting individual growth, wellbeing and leadership impact.

Science meets success

"We are a team of experts who enable Business leaders to leverage science and economics to build sustainable, dynamic organisational growth and success which has a powerful and net positive impact on people and the world."

Maria Paviour, Occupational Psychologist and Founder

Human Capital Intelligence

Cari - The Commitment and Resilience Index - providing rich HCI data to measure and support wellbeing, engagement, and performance.

Executive Development

NeuChem Coaching: neuroscience based coaching for executives and team members. Get in the driving seat of your brain.

Wellbeing Leadership

Wellbeing 1st Responder, Leading With Wellbeing. Building workplace communities where people can be the best version of themselves.

Optimism Insights.

ArticleThe Cultural Imperative.

ArticleRethinking process management.

ArticleAchieving business objectives.

Ready to protect your people and your purpose?

Build a workforce strategy that’s evidence-based, credible and truly aligned with what your organisation stands for.

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