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Unveiling Job Crafting Secrets: The role of time perspective and goals

Imagine shaping your work like an artist moulding clay, tailoring it to your aspirations and your vision of the future. This approach is called ‘job crafting’. A new study has just uncovered how the process of job crafting is influenced by two crucial factors: future time perspective and goal orientation.

Researchers from University of East Anglia (Norwich Business School) and UiT, The Arctic University of Norway (Department of Psychology) embarked on a comprehensive exploration of the relationship between future time perspectives, goal orientations and job crafting. Their study engaged a diverse group of 402 academics from Ghana. Over the course of three months, a combination of digital surveys and traditional paper questionnaires was used to amass data.

Individuals who have a long future time perspective – seeing many opportunities and possibilities far into their occupational future – tend to reshape aspects of their jobs (tasks, roles, and relationships, etc.) to align them with their future objectives. This injects an additional layer of purpose into their daily routines. Individuals envisioning the future with optimism and purpose are inclined to tailor their jobs in alignment with their goals.

For those at the other end of the time perspective scale (those who live in the present moment), there’s no need for concern. This mindset doesn’t seem to lead to any harm: there’s no inherent inclination towards evading specific work responsibilities.

This study draws on a robust theoretical framework known as the expectancy-value theory. This theory serves as the foundational mechanism that illuminates the motives behind human actions. By embedding the study within this framework, it provides a glimpse into what propels job crafting.

From an HR manager’s perspective, this research holds noteworthy implications. It offers insights into how employees’ perspectives on their own future and their goals can directly influence their engagement in job crafting activities. Understanding these dynamics can aid HR managers in fostering a work environment that encourages personalised job crafting, where employees are empowered to mould their roles according to their aspirations. It’s a strategic insight that can enhance job satisfaction, motivation, and overall organisational performance.

Authors:

Samuel Tetteh¹, Kevin Daniels¹, Rachel Nayani¹, and Dana Unger²