Goal Facilitation Theory as Counselling Framework for Enhancing Employees’ Career Adaptability and Thriving atWork

Abstract

The chapter contributes to career counselling theory by introducing goal facilitation as a theoretical lens for understanding the direct and indirect links between the three concepts of organisational career instrumentality, career adaptability and thriving at work within the boundary conditions of individuals’ life stage (age). The chapter draws on the experiences of (N = 606) white (56%) and black (44%) and male (54%) and female (46%) professional people (mean age = 37; SD = 11.08) employed across the globe (South Africa: 76%; Europe: 19%; Africa: 3%; Eastern countries: 2%). The interaction effect between low organisational career instrumentality and age in explaining low thriving at work was significantly stronger for the 25-39 years age group when compared with the mid-life aspirants (40-56 years). Moderated-mediation analysis showed that organisational career instrumentality positively explains thriving atwork through career adaptability for the 30s transition candidates (25-39 years). The findings highlight organisational career instrumentality and career adaptability attitudes and behaviours as important mechanisms in career counselling intervention for understanding the dynamics between personal goal pursuit and state of thriving within the boundary conditions of clients’ life stage. The chapter outlines implications for theory and provides guidelines for career counselling intervention.