New professor with a passion for leadership and work environment
Andrea Eriksson is a professor of psychosocial work environment at the Division of Ergonomics. Her focus is on leadership and work environment – where it is the practical benefits of the research that she likes to emphasise.
"I'm pleased every time someone gets in touch and tells me that they've really benefited from the guides and materials for workplaces that we've produced. I am passionate about contributing to a good working environment. We know that leadership, which is my focus, has a very big impact on how employees feel."
Andrea Eriksson started at KTH in 2012 when she did her postdoc on change management in hospitals and how it affects employee health and engagement.
“In our division, we take a slightly broader view of ergonomics. It's not just about Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders, but also about how to promote sustainable and healthy work systems. We look at it from different perspectives, mine being leadership and organisation. It's something I've more or less always focused on, ever since I started at KTH.”
Andrea Eriksson spends half of her time on research and the other half on teaching. She teaches on the Master's programme in Technology, Work and Health and has an independent course in Lifelong Learning, Leadership and Sustainable Work.
“I really enjoy both the research and the teaching, and the variety is very stimulating. My students also often have work experience, which means that there is mutual learning that gives a lot back.”
Close cooperpation with work places
Ergonomics research naturally involves close co-operation with work places, as the idea is that the research will be of real benefit in the workplace.
“On the one hand, we have traditional research using traditional methods, published in scientific journals. But then we have also developed work materials and handbooks to translate the research into practice, so that workplaces really use them. The work materials include a summary of the research, but also reflection exercises and examples of how to work in practice.”
In her recent research, she has focused on inclusive work environments. This is about creating a work environment where everyone feels included and respected, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Here too, there is a practical toolkit that can be used directly in the workplace.
Wants to be part of the bigger picture
A memorable moment for Andrea Eriksson was when she and her colleague Lotta Dellve, then a visiting professor at KTH, were awarded the HR research prize for a working material on leadership that was based on both scientific work and the practical application of the research.
As a professor, she hopes to be able to make a more comprehensive contribution to improving KTH as an academic environment.
I have previously served on the Strategic Council and I am a member of the Docents' Committee. I like to be part of the bigger picture. Here the future will show what role I can take.
Good working environment in her own division
The obvious question, of course, is what the work environment is like in her own department, and she smiles when asked.
“I really enjoy my work, especially with my colleagues. That co-operation is really the driving force behind my staying at KTH. We have a great atmosphere, and I feel great support from my colleagues. We work actively with the community and have, for example, done the Stafettvasan together. Then it was one of my doctoral students who taught me better skiing techniques. The fact that we do things together has contributed to the team spirit. Another thing is that we are very good at celebrating in our department. If something happens, we raise it at department meetings and APT.”
The department celebrated the fact that she is now a professor even before the summer.
“Then there was cake!”
Text: Åsa Karsberg
Are you interested in the material Good working environment for LGBTI people? Then you can download it here (in Swedish).
Do you want to take Andrea Eriksson's course Ledarskap och hållbara arbeten (held in Swedish), starting 28 October? Read more about it here.