Business Faculty Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2010
Publication Title
Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology
Keywords
proactive behavior; management; negative effects
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Human Resources Management | Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Abstract
Previous research investigating proactive behaviour at work has generally focused on the ways in which proactive behaviour enables individuals and organizations to be more effective. Although it has been noted that some proactive behaviours may be undesirable or have potentially negative consequences, researchers have not examined the ‘dark side’ of proactive behaviour in any systematic way. In this conceptual paper, we explore the potentially negative individual and organizational implications of expecting employees to behave proactively. Specifically, at the individual level, we argue that expecting proactive behaviour in organizations may contribute to stress among employees and friction between proactive and less proactive employees. At the organizational level, we suggest that relying on proactive behaviour may cause harm to an organization by undermining its ability to socialize employees and foster its organizational culture, weakening its learning capability, and reducing its ability to develop future leaders. We conclude by discussing additional avenues for studies examining the potential costs of proactive behaviour for both individuals and organizations alike.
Recommended Citation
Bolino, M., Valcea, S., & Harvey, J. (2010). Employee, manage thyself: The potentially negative implications of expecting employees to behave proactively. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 83(2), 325-345. doi: 10.1348/096317910X493134
DOI
10.1348/096317910X493134
Version
Postprint
Publisher's Statement
This is the accepted version of the following article: Bolino, M., Valcea, S., & Harvey, J. (2010). Employee, manage thyself: The potentially negative implications of expecting employees to behave proactively. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 83(2), 325-345. doi: 10.1348/096317910X493134, which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1348/096317910X493134/abstract
Volume
83
Issue
2
Included in
Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, Human Resources Management Commons, Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons
