Being Successful in a Creative Profession: The Role of Innovative Cognitive Style, Self-Regulation, and Self-Efficacy

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to test a model that proposes that innovative cognitive style and self-regulation (setting priorities, planning work activities, and monitoring time and task progress) are related to the self-reported success of architects. We investigated two aspects of the success: as designers and as business people. To this end, we examined the mediating role of self-efficacy in these relationships.Data/Methodology/ApproachWe collected data using a web-based survey among 276 architects in the Netherlands. These were architects that either managed and/or owned a company, including freelance architects.FindingsInnovative cognitive style was related directly and indirectly, via design self-efficacy, to the self-rating of being a successful designer. Self-regulation, via self-efficacy, was indirectly related to being a successful designer, and directly related to being a successful businessperson. In addition, design success was related to success as a businessperson.ImplicationsThis study shows that self-regulation at work is related to self-rated success in design and business. We regard self-regulation to be a form of actively managing work tasks, identified as an increasingly important type of behavior at work.Originality/ValueThis study is one of the first to investigate the self-regulation of creative professionals that included both design and business aspects. We focused on three aspects of self-regulation, and tested our model using structural equation modeling.

Exploring individual-work context fit in affecting employee creativity in technology-based companies

“…A recent empirical study on Dutch architects showed that innovative cognitive style indirectly relates to an architect's success in creative design through strengthening creative self-efficacy, an important predicator of individual creativity (Beeftink et al, 2012). On the other hand, proactive personality also plays an important role in determining an individual's creative potential.…”

Personality, Resilience, Self-Regulation and Cognitive Ability Relevant to Teacher Selection

“…Psychological constructs such as some aspects of personality (Barrick & Mount, 1991, Tett, Jackson, & Rothstein, 1991; intelligence (Bertua, Anderson, & Salgado, 2005); Resilience (Avey, Reichard, Luthans, & Mhatre, 2011); and self-regulation (Beeftink, Van Eerde, Rutte, & Bertrand, 2012) have been shown to relate to job performance for an ever increasing number of fields. The inclusion of these factors in the present study is based on the teacher selection model recently proposed in which personality, Resilience and self-regulation are regarded as key indicators for selection (Bowles, Hattie, Dinham, Scull, & Clinton, 2014).…”

“…They involve effectively seeking and using feedback to adjust and improve, managing time and seeking help when needed. Self-regulation is related to successful job performance in a range of professions (Ashford & Tsui, 1991;Beeftink et al, 2012;Lord et al, 2010) and a recent study found mathematics teachers classified as having high levels of self-regulation were given more favourable rating by students, and the students of such teachers reported feeling more component and autonomous in class (Klusmann et al, 2008). It is likely that teachers with self-regulatory skills manage their workload better and seek feedback on their teaching from students and colleagues, thus working to improve their teaching.…”

Team Processing and Creative Self-efficacy in Professionals from Creative and Non-creative Industries

“…Creative self-efficacy also serves as a significant variable in predicting success in creative professionals (Beeftink et al 2012), professionals in non-creative industries (Chong and Ma 2010;Tierney and Farmer 2002), and undergraduate college students (Hung et al 2008). Beeftink et al (2012) examined 276 successful architects in the Netherland and reported that self-efficacy played a key role in mediating the relation between innovative cognitive style and success in the creative profession regardless the size of the architectural business organizations.…”

“…Beeftink et al (2012) examined 276 successful architects in the Netherland and reported that self-efficacy played a key role in mediating the relation between innovative cognitive style and success in the creative profession regardless the size of the architectural business organizations. Creative self-efficacy plays a pivotal role in predicting Pro-c creativity in architects.…”