What is it about?
This study found that proactive employees - those who take initiative rather than wait - advance faster in their careers. This holds true for both intrinsic career growth (skill development and personal achievement) and extrinsic career growth (promotions and pay raises). Among proactive behaviors, both voice (sharing ideas) and taking charge (driving change) matter, but taking charge is the stronger driver of skill building and advancement. Speaking up helps, but action delivers greater rewards. Leadership also plays a role: when managers are less proactive, employees’ own initiative stands out even more, amplifying its career benefits.
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Why is it important?
Unlike most research focused on broad personality traits, this study shows that proactivity drives career success. In today’s uncertain, self-directed career landscape, taking initiative leads to stronger skills, quicker promotions, and higher pay. But there’s a twist: when bosses are highly proactive, the career benefits of employees’ own initiative are less pronounced.
Perspectives
The paper shows that initiative accelerates career growth but that leadership shapes its impact, highlighting the dual importance of individual effort and workplace context in achieving career success.
Dr. Hermann Lassleben
ESB Business School, Reutlingen University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Employee Proactive Personality and Career Growth: The Role of Proactive Behavior and Leader Proactive Personality, Behavioral Sciences, March 2024, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/bs14030256.
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