WHAT DO PROACTIVE PEOPLE DO? A LONGITUDINAL MODEL LINKING PROACTIVE PERSONALITY AND CAREER SUCCESS

TLDR

The study develops and tests a model linking proactive personality to career success through behavioral and cognitive mediators, and discusses practical implications and future research. Using a 2‑year longitudinal design with 180 full‑time employees and supervisors, the authors employed structural equation modeling to examine the relationships. Proactive personality at Time 1 predicts higher innovation, political knowledge, and career initiative (but not voice) at Time 2, and these mediators in turn predict greater salary growth, promotions, and career satisfaction, while voice is negatively associated with career progression.

Abstract

We developed and tested a model linking proactive personality and career success through a set of four behavioral and cognitive mediators. A 2‐year longitudinal design with data from a sample of 180 full‐time employees and their supervisors was used. Results from structural equation modeling showed that proactive personality measured at Time 1 was positively related to innovation, political knowledge, and career initiative, but not voice; all measured at Time 2. Innovation, political knowledge, and career initiative in turn had positive relationships with career progression (salary growth and the number of promotions during the previous 2 years) and career satisfaction. Interestingly, voice had a negative relationship with career progression. We discuss practical implications and future research directions for proactive personality, extra‐role behavior, and careers.