Proactive Vitality Management and Creative Work Performance: The Role of Self‐Insight and Social Support

Emma M Op Den Kamp,Maria Tims,Evangelia Demerouti,Arnold B Bakker

doi:10.1002/jocb.368

Abstract

AbstractIntegrating proactivity and creativity literatures, we argue that people can perform more creatively at work when they proactively manage their levels of vitality. Proactive vitality management is defined as individual, goal‐oriented behavior aimed at managing physical and mental energy to promote optimal functioning at work. We hypothesize that this process may be facilitated by being aware of one's own state and by support from others. A total of 242 employees participated in a weekly diary study for three consecutive weeks, yielding 610 observations. Results of multilevel analyses show that participants reported more creative work performance during weeks in which they had proactively used vitality management. In addition, in line with our predictions, self‐insight and social support for creativity in the workplace acted as cross‐level moderators and strengthened the relationship between proactive vitality management and creativity. We conclude that a proactive approach regarding physical and mental energy is an important bottom‐up strategy that may foster creativity in work settings.

Highlights

Integrating proactivity and creativity literatures, we argue that people can perform more creatively at work when they proactively manage their levels of vitality
We argue that people may promote their own level of creativity through proactive vitality management, defined as individual, goal-oriented behavior aimed at managing physical and mental energy to promote optimal functioning at work (Op den Kamp, Tims, Bakker, & Demerouti, 2018)
We examine the influence of self-insight, as it may promote the awareness of personal needs and preferences regarding how and when to boost physical and mental energy for work

Summary

Introduction

Integrating proactivity and creativity literatures, we argue that people can perform more creatively at work when they proactively manage their levels of vitality. Proactive vitality management is defined as individual, goal-oriented behavior aimed at managing physical and mental energy to promote optimal functioning at work. We hypothesize that this process may be facilitated by being aware of one’s own state and by support from others. The scientist, feels unable to focus and lacks the (positive) energy to get creative juices flowing to come up with a decent paragraph to start her article with In this situation, an individual wants to perform creatively at work, but is somehow lacking the physical and mental energy needed to achieve this in that very moment. The question that constitutes the basis of the present study is: To what extent can individuals promote their own levels of creative work performance? Or, can people proactively mobilize the physical and mental energy needed to perform creatively at work?

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion