'Unleashing Potential: Nurturing Proactivity in the Workplace', a seminar by Professor Chia-Huei Wu (King's College London)

Unleashing Potential: Nurturing Proactivity in the Workplace

By Professor Chia-Huei Wu

Abstract

Proactivity at work involves self-initiated actions aimed at making changes to improve the situation or oneself. In this presentation, Professor Wu will share findings from his research program on proactivity in three topics. First, whether and how can organizations promote and build a proactive workforce? Rather than relying solely on employees who possess proactive dispositional tendencies, there are different approaches that organizations can take to develop a proactive workforce. The presentation will elaborate on the function of leadership and work design in motivating employee proactivity. Second, whether and how unfavorable situations can create a necessity for employee proactivity? The presentation will cover studies showing how challenging tasks, threatening political environments, and unfavorable social environments can spur employee proactivity to overcome those obstacles. Third, what are the consequences of proactivity? Scholars have only recently begun examining the consequences of proactivity compared to its antecedents. The presentation will share findings on the impact of employee proactivity on individuals and supervisors. Finally, the presentation will conclude by outlining future research directions.

About the speaker

Chia-Huei Wu is Professor at King's Business School, King's college London and Visiting Professor at Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds. His research in organizational behaviour concerns the person–environment dynamics and has two research streams: Employee Proactivity (i.e., why, when, and how employees can use their proactivity to change and improve the work environment) and Work and Personality Development (i.e., whether and how work experiences shape one’s personality development). Professor Wu has published over 100 journal articles and book chapters. His work has appeared in various journals, including the Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Management, Human Resource Management, and Human Resource Management Journal, among others. He served as an associate editor for the Journal of Management between 2020 to 2023.

Webpage at King's : https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/chia-huei-wu