Proactive work orientation

Abstract

In this paper, I introduce a model of the antecedents and outcomes of proactive work orientation. I suggest that a proactive work orientation is developed when individuals engage in agentic behaviors, including self-directed goal-setting, self-directed skill development, and network building. These agentic behaviors facilitate the emergence of a proactive identity and contribute to the generation of knowledge and relational resources which can fuel continued agentic behaviors. Implications of this model for advancing proactivity research and for a better integration of proactivity research with research on careers are discussed. © 2010 Gabler Verlag | GWV Fachverlage GmbH, Wiesbaden.