Maria Christina Meyers’s research while affiliated with Tilburg University and other places

Managers are increasingly expected to coach their employees. However, managers are often ill equipped and lack the necessary support from their organization to effectively implement coaching behavior. Based on strengths theory, we propose that a strengths spotting intervention could help managers to develop their coaching behavior. In addition, based on theory on emotional contagion and the broaden and build theory, we argue that spotting employees’ signature strengths leads to a stronger increase in managerial coaching behavior over time than an intervention that focuses on spotting lesser strengths. We conducted a field experiment, in which 255 managers (providing 414 data points) were randomly assigned to either a signature strengths or a lesser strengths spotting intervention. In a 1-month follow-up study we found that both interventions contributed equally to managerial coaching behavior. We conclude that online training in strengths spotting is a useful tool that helps managers to develop their coaching behavior.

Recently, strengths used at the team level, that is, collective strengths use, has been introduced as a novel construct that consists of the sub-dimensions of strengths awareness, credibility, and coordination, and influences individual as well as team performance. In this study, we developed a scale to measure this novel construct; moreover, we empirically tested the hypotheses that collective strengths use relates positively to team performance, and that individual performance mediates, while strengths diversity moderates, this relationship. We tested the resulting 2-1-2 moderated mediation model using a sample of 136 work teams encompassing 925 individual employees and their leaders. Cluster-corrected structural equation modeling supported the expected direct relationship between collective strengths use and individual performance and leader-rated team performance , but provided no support for the mediation and mixed support for the moderation hypotheses. Importantly , the analysis revealed differential relationships between the three sub-dimensions of collective strengths use and individual-and team-level performance.

The teaching profession is characterized by high demands and teachers who thrive are better able to navigate their demanding context than teachers who survive. Based on theories on strengths use we propose that strengths interventions which help teachers to identify, use, and develop their strengths can enhance their thriving (vitality and learning) which enables them to perform better. In addition, based on the socioemotional selective theory we propose that strengths interventions are especially beneficial for older teachers because it fits their goals and skills. We conducted a quasi-experimental study, in which 152 teachers and their team leaders participated in a strengths intervention. Longitudinal survey data indicated that the strengths intervention contributed to older teachers’ (≥ 46 years old) vitality, which in turn, contributed to their performance. No significant effects were found for younger teachers. We discuss the implications of our study for older teachers.

Employees can play a decisive role in combatting climate change by engaging in green behavior at work. Research on employee green behavior has recently gained traction, with research results pointing to the considerable influence of positive variables (e.g., personal values, positive affect) on employee green behavior. While such positive variables lie at the heart of the scholarly discipline positive organizational psychology, there is scant research at the intersection of positive organizational psychology and employee green behavior. The current manuscript aims to give impetus to such research. To this end, the manuscript presents a systematic review of the literature on positive predictors of employee green behavior and identified 94 articles that investigate such predictors. We explicitly map these investigated predictors onto a positive (organizational) psychology frame of reference. Subsequently, we use the findings of the review to identify gaps and outline concrete suggestions for future research at the intersection of positive organizational psychology and employee green behavior, addressing both theoretical and methodological suggestions.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations around the world rapidly transitioned to enforced remote work. We examined the relationship between personality and within-person changes in five job outcomes (self-reported performance, engagement, job satisfaction, burnout, and turnover intentions) during this transition. We conducted a four-wave longitudinal study, from May to August 2020, of employees working from home due to COVID-19, N = 974. On average, self-reported performance decreased over the course of the study, whereas the other outcomes remained stable. There was also significant between-person variability in job outcomes. Extroversion and conscientiousness, two traits traditionally associated with desirable outcomes, were associated with deteriorating outcomes over time. Extroverted employees and conscientious employees became less productive, less engaged, and less satisfied with their jobs; and extroverted employees reported increasing burnout. These results add to our understanding of how personality predicts within-person changes in performance, well-being, and turnover intentions during the pandemic.

While being homosexual in Africa has serious consequences, in post-democratic South Africa, with its progressive constitution, homosexual people are considered equal to heterosexual people. However, constitutional equality does not always translate into practical equality for various reasons, in particular, religion. In this chapter, we evaluate the experiences of gay and lesbian South African employees from three empirical studies from the past five years. We were specifically interested in the perceived experiences of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination of homosexual people. Results indicated that for gays and lesbians, these negative experiences at work are still a reality, which was confirmed by contemporary literature. Furthermore, religion continues to fuel these stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. Although forced by company policy, there are also signs that fellow employees are becoming more tolerant. Organizations have at their disposal various ways to dismantle the harmful stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination and to help foster a climate of inclusion. The findings add to the lacking body of knowledge regarding the treatment of gays and lesbians in the workplace in South Africa and give insight into the influence of religion in this dynamic. Directions for future research are given.

Purpose Employees need a sustainable career to prolong their working lives. The ability, motivation and opportunity to work form an important basis for sustainable careers across the lifespan. However, over the lifespan of their careers employees are likely to experience several career shocks (e.g. becoming chronically ill or being fired) which might result in unsustainable trajectories. This study aims to contribute to the literature on sustainable careers by unraveling the process through which careers shocks relate to career (un)sustainability and what role perceptions of human resource practices play in the process. Design/methodology/approach Three in-depth retrospective interviews with participants of 50 years and older were conducted and analyzed using a template analysis. Findings Results showed that career shocks influence career sustainability through a process of changes in demands or changes in resources, which in turn, relate to changes in person–job fit. When person-job–fit diminished, the ability, motivation and opportunity to continue working decreased, whereas when person–job fit improved, the ability, motivation and opportunity to continue working improved as well. Organizations appear to be able to diminish the negative consequences of career shocks by offering job resources such as HR practices in response to career shocks. Research limitations/implications A limitation of this study is the retrospective nature of the interviews, which could have resulted in recollection bias. Practical implications This study gives HRM practitioners insight into the HR practices that are effective in overcoming career shocks. Originality/value This study extends existing literature by including career shocks as possible predictors of sustainable careers.