Incremental Validity of Character Strengths as Predictors of Job Performance Beyond General Mental Ability and the Big Five

Abstract

Over the last decades, various predictors have proven relevant for job performance [e.g., general mental ability (GMA), broad personality traits, such as the Big Five]. However, prediction of job performance is far from perfect, and further potentially relevant predictors need to be investigated. Narrower personality traits, such as individuals' character strengths, have emerged as meaningfully related to different aspects of job performance. However, it is still unclear whether character strengths can explain additional variance in job performance over and above already known powerful predictors. Consequently, the present study aimed at (1) examining the incremental validity of character strengths as predictors of job performance beyond GMA and/or the Big Five traits and (2) identifying the most important predictors of job performance out of the 24 character strengths, GMA, and the Big Five. Job performance was operationalized with multidimensional measures of both productive and counterproductive work behavior. A sample of 169 employees from different occupations completed web-based self-assessments on character strengths, GMA, and the Big Five. Additionally, the employees' supervisors provided web-based ratings of their job performance. Results showed that character strengths incrementally predicted job performance beyond GMA, the Big Five, or GMA plus the Big Five; explained variance increased up to 54.8, 43.1, and 38.4%, respectively, depending on the dimension of job performance. Exploratory relative weight analyses revealed that for each of the dimensions of job performance, at least one character strength explained a numerically higher amount of variance than GMA and the Big Five, except for individual task proactivity, where GMA exhibited the numerically highest amount of explained variance. The present study shows that character strengths are relevant predictors of job performance in addition to GMA and other conceptualizations of personality (i.e., the Big Five). This also highlights the role of socio-emotional skills, such as character strengths, for the understanding of performance outcomes above and beyond cognitive ability.

Predicting army cadets’ performance: The role of character strengths, GPA and GMA

“…However, there are a couple of other studies indicating that character strengths might outperform other commonly used performance predictors, such as GMA and personality (e.g. Duckworth and Seligman 2005;Harzer et al 2021), in predicting both job and academic achievement.…”

“…character strengths, grit, hardiness, selfdiscipline and self-control) can also function as important predictors of both academic achievement and job performance (e.g. Duckworth and Seligman 2005;Harzer and Ruch 2014;Harzer et al 2021;Lounsbury et al 2009). Harzer et al (2021) found, for example, that 'perseverance, teamwork and leadership seemed to be especially relevant for numerous dimensions of job performance', and that these three character strengths explained a substantial amount of variance in job performance even after controlling for GMA and personality.…”

“…Duckworth and Seligman 2005;Harzer and Ruch 2014;Harzer et al 2021;Lounsbury et al 2009). Harzer et al (2021) found, for example, that 'perseverance, teamwork and leadership seemed to be especially relevant for numerous dimensions of job performance', and that these three character strengths explained a substantial amount of variance in job performance even after controlling for GMA and personality. Lounsbury et al (2009) found positive and significant correlations between college academic performance (AP) on the one hand, and Persistence, Open-Mindedness, Love of Learning, Self-Regulation and Prudence on the other.…”

“…The research on character strengths is still in its infancy, but there are an increasing number of empirical studies linking character strengths to both job and academic achievement (e.g. Gosnell et al 2020;Harzer et al 2021;Karris Bachik et al 2020;Wagner et al 2020). When studying performance in extreme settings where occasionally crucial decisions that might have fatal consequences, must be taken (e.g.…”

Character Strengths and Fluid Intelligence

“…While a sizeable overlap with the personality traits of the FFM is to be expected; however, empirical studies have shown that character strengths and FFM personality traits are not redundant (McGrath et al, 2020;Noftle et al, 2011;Ruch et al, 2021). Furthermore, character strengths predict incremental validity in various work, educational, and behavioral outcomes beyond FFM personality traits (e.g., Harzer et al, 2021;Ruch et al, 2017;. At the same time, the relationship between character strengths and cognitive personality traits has not been examined thus far.…”