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Journal of Business and Psychology

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01-09-2011

Testing Differential Mediation Effects of Sub-dimensions of Political Skills in Linking Proactive Personality to Employee Performance

Authors: Junqi Shi, Zhuo Chen, Le Zhou

Published in: Journal of Business and Psychology | Issue 3/2011

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research was to examine the mediating roles of political skill dimensions (i.e., networking ability, interpersonal influence, social astuteness, and apparent sincerity) in linking employees’ proactive personality and supervisor-rated in-role performance and altruism.

Design/Methodology/Approach

Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the mediation model based on data collected from employees working for a large insurance company in China (N = 198).

Findings

Results suggested that networking ability, interpersonal influence, and social astuteness mediated the relationship between proactive personality and in-role performance. Networking ability and social astuteness mediated the relationship between proactive personality and altruism.

Implications

Testing the mediation effects of all dimensions of political skills between proactive personality and in-role performance and altruism helps to advance our theoretical understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the beneficial effect of proactive personality on performance. Our findings may also help to inform the importance of developing employees’ political skill in order to enhance their job performance.

Originality/Value

This empirical study provides preliminary evidence of the mediating effects of the specific dimension of political skill in the positive relationship between proactive personality and in- and extra-role performance.

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Title: Testing Differential Mediation Effects of Sub-dimensions of Political Skills in Linking Proactive Personality to Employee Performance
Authors: Junqi Shi
Zhuo Chen
Le Zhou
Publication date: 01-09-2011
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Business and Psychology / Issue 3/2011
Print ISSN: 0889-3268
Electronic ISSN: 1573-353X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-010-9195-0

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Abstract

Purpose

Design/Methodology/Approach

Findings

Implications

Originality/Value

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