Ellen Jackson, Founder & Psychologist, B.Comm, M.App.Sc

Hi, I'm Ellen. My passion is helping communities and organisations grow stronger and more connected. For over 20 years, I've supported people at all levels—from individuals to teams and leaders—to create positive change in their social and professional environments.

My focus is on three key areas:

  1. Community leadership: I guide people to become effective leaders who can inspire and bring people together for a common cause.

  2. Capacity building: I help organisations and communities unlock their full potential by teaching the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

  3. Fostering human connections: I believe that strong relationships and networks are the foundation for meaningful change, so I work to strengthen the social fabric within and between organisations.

Community Catalyst

Change Strategist

My work extends to various settings, including social impact initiatives, philanthropy, and efforts to build resilient communities. My ultimate goal is to empower people and organisations to find their purpose and make a real difference in the world.

The Messy Middle

My Substack Newsletter

Featured
Why everything you know about motivation is wrong
Why everything you know about motivation is wrong

Motivation is the desire to do something.

It's as simple as that.

But it's not simple. Anyone who's ever tried to motivate themselves to develop a new habit, start an exercise regime, change their diet or even learn a new skill knows that motivation is not a simple thing. From a psychological point of view, it's far more complex than most of us anticipate - or want.

One cause of this complexity is the unhelpful beliefs that many of us hold about motivation. Here are the Top 5.

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Empowering Communities One Leader at a Time
Empowering Communities One Leader at a Time

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." - African Proverb.

Hello Wayfinders. Today I’m muddling through collective purpose, leadership, and building a better world. Just your average Tuesday😉

If you’ve been following for a while you might have noticed a shift in my writing and podcast post-pandemic. My interest in what helps us to fulfil our potential has pivoted from ‘you, me, or us’ as individual beings, to ‘us or we’ as collectives or parts of bigger systems.

Pre-pandemic I delved into happiness, productivity, self-care, parenting, the brain, emotions, sleep, play, fun, adapting to change, motivation, procrastination, and more. It was great fun and I learned a lot. I hope you did too.

Post-pandemic, this focus on the individual feels frivolous. A little indulgent. For me, it now lacks a sense of meaning and purpose.

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The Non-Profit Sector's Silent Struggle: Starvation Cycles and the Aftermath
The Non-Profit Sector's Silent Struggle: Starvation Cycles and the Aftermath

A Workplace Psychologist's take on funding constraints, burnout and diminished impact

“One gets to feast on marketing, risk-taking, capital and financial incentive, the other is sentenced to begging.” Dan Pallotta, The way we think of charity is dead wrong

Hey fellow wayfinders. Today I’m muddling through the messiness of not-for-profits and the impact a ‘survival’ system has on people, productivity and problem-solving.

Not just today. I’ve been grappling with this in different ways since I began my first not-for-profit role four years ago. Perhaps today I’m writing to make sense of that experience and the new knowledge I’ve gained as I’ve immersed myself a little deeper in social impact in 2024.

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LEARNING = LIFE

YOU'LL NEVER BE BORED WHEN YOU TRY SOMETHING NEW. THERE'S REALLY NO LIMIT TO WHAT YOU CAN DO - Dr. Seuss

The Potential Psychology Podcast

“Ellen always chooses guests who are knowledgeable and entertaining and her interview style is warm and friendly, which brings out their best.”
— Tracey, podcast listener
“The kind of podcast where you go back to episode one and listen to every single show.”
— Meesy, podcast listener