Articlehybrid2018

Strengthening personal growth: The effects of a strengths intervention on personal growth initiative

Marianne van Woerkom · Maria Christina Meyers

109 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology

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Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior Human Resource Development and Performance Evaluation

Abstract

Personal growth is not only a central individual need but also a key requirement for organizational success. Nevertheless, workplace interventions aimed at stimulating the personal growth of employees are still scarce. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of an intervention that aimed at the identification, development, and use of employee strengths in stimulating personal growth initiative. We conducted a field experiment with a sample of 84 educational professionals who were either assigned to a strengths intervention or a wait‐list control group. In a 1‐month follow‐up study, we found that the intervention had a direct effect on general self‐efficacy (GSE) and an indirect effect on personal growth initiative. Moreover, in line with plasticity theory we found that the intervention was especially effective for participants with low to medium initial levels of GSE. We conclude that a strengths intervention may provide a brief and effective tool for organizations that aim for self‐directed learning among their staff, in particular when offered to employees who lack confidence in their own abilities. Practitioner points In a 1 month follow‐up study, we found that a strengths intervention had a positive direct effect on general self‐efficacy and an indirect effect on personal growth initiative. In line with plasticity theory, we found that the strengths intervention was especially effective for participants with low to medium initial levels of general self‐efficacy.

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References

1999Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control 1977Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change.1977Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change.2000Positive psychology: An introduction.2000Positive psychology: An introduction.1991Social cognitive theory of self-regulation 2005Positive Psychology Progress: Empirical Validation of Interventions.2004Character strengths and virtues: a handbook and classification

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2020Considering strengths use in organizations as a multilevel construct 2019Empowerment through self-improvement skills: The role of learning goals and personal growth initiative 2020Personal growth initiative: the effects of person–organization fit, work empowerment and authentic leadership 2020From Isolation to Interaction: A Social Network Perspective on Older Teachers’ Position in School Organizations and Age-Related HR Practices 2023The effect of self‐leadership training on detached concern and the proactivity of human service professionals

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