Proactive personality and job performance: The role of job crafting and work engagement

TLDR

The study investigates whether proactive personality predicts work engagement and job performance through job crafting. Data were collected from 190 employees in 95 dyads across multiple organizations. Structural equation modeling showed that proactive employees were more likely to craft their jobs, which in turn increased engagement (vigor, dedication, absorption) and colleague‑rated performance, supporting the proposed model.

Abstract

The article examines the role of proactive personality in predicting work engagement and job performance. On the basis of the literature on proactive personality and the job demands–resources model, we hypothesized that employees with a proactive personality would be most likely to craft their own jobs, in order to stay engaged and perform well. Data were collected among 95 dyads of employees ( N = 190), who were working in various organizations. The results of structural equation modeling analyses offered strong support for the proposed model. Employees who were characterized by a proactive personality were most likely to craft their jobs (increase their structural and social job resources, and increase their job challenges); job crafting, in turn, was predictive of work engagement (vigor, dedication, and absorption) and colleague-ratings of in-role performance. These findings suggest that, to the extent that employees proactively adjust their work environment, they manage to stay engaged and perform well.