Proactivity at Work ─ Making Things Happen in Organizations

As organizations grow increasingly complex and unpredictable, the topic of proactivity at work has become of great importance for contemporary workplaces. Proactivity drives performance and innovation of teams and organizations and boosts individuals’ well-being and careers. When individuals are proactive, they use their initiative at work to bring about a better future. They scan for opportunities, persist until change is achieved, and take charge to prevent problems’ future reoccurrence. In this book, leading scholars on proactivity from across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia explore how, why, and when individuals are motivated to initiate change within their organizations or themselves and examine the consequences of various forms of proactivity at work. Individual chapters explore specific concepts of proactivity, such as proactive voice, job crafting, and career proactivity, as well as highlight individual processes and organizational dynamics that underlie successful proactivity at work. By providing insights on key advances and future directions for proactivity theory, research, and practice, Proactivity at Work synthesizes what we already know and identifies what we still need to learn about ‘making things happen’ at work. This book is relevant to all those involved or interested in Work Psychology and Business, including Human Resource Management scholars.

Sharon K. Parker is a Professor of Management and Organisations at the Business School, University of Western Australia and an Australian Laureate Fellow. She is a world-leading expert on the topic of proactive work behavior.

Uta K. Bindl is an Assistant Professor of Management at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She is an expert on the topics of employee proactivity and well-being.