Journal article
Proactive personality and proactive behaviour: Perspectives on person-situation interactions
Journal of occupational and organizational psychology, Vol.92(1), pp.30-51
03/01/2019
DOI: 10.1111/joop.12234
Abstract
We conducted a field survey of leaders and their followers to examine factors that moderate the relationship between employee proactive personality and proactive behaviour. As hypothesized, random coefficient modelling analysis showed that two situational factors - transformational leadership and a climate of innovation and flexibility - moderated the relationship between employee proactive personality and proactive behaviour. Conceptually, we draw from situational strength theory to predict the pattern of these interactions. Our findings indicated that organizations desiring proactive employee behaviour would be well advised to take one of three courses of action: select employees with proactive personality who will generally behave proactively regardless of the situation; develop transformational leaders who will motivate, inspire, and support proactive employee behaviour; or cultivate a climate of innovation and flexibility which will create a strong situation that fosters proactivity regardless of employee individual differences. Practitioner points
The modern workplace often demands that employees behave proactively, and our research shows that there are multiple strategies organizations can implement to facilitate employee proactive behaviour. In particular, our study reveals three ways for organizations to facilitate proactive employee behaviour: (1) recruit and select employees who are high in proactive personality, who will be more apt to naturally engage in proactive behaviour; (2) hire or train leaders to be transformational since transformational leaders will bring about proactive employee behaviour; or (3) create a climate that rewards innovation and flexibility as such a climate will encourage proactive employee behaviour.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Proactive personality and proactive behaviour: Perspectives on person-situation interactions
- Creators
- Brian W. McCormick - Northern Illinois UniversityRussell P. Guay - University of Northern IowaAmy E. Colbert - University of IowaGreg L. Stewart - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of occupational and organizational psychology, Vol.92(1), pp.30-51
- Publisher
- Wiley
- DOI
- 10.1111/joop.12234
- ISSN
- 0963-1798
- eISSN
- 2044-8325
- Number of pages
- 22
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/01/2019
- Academic Unit
- Management and Entrepreneurship ; Center for Social Science Innovation
- Record Identifier
- 9984380519802771
Metrics
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