Revisiting relationships between personality and job performance: working hard and working smart

Abstract

Most research has focused on situational moderators to understand the relationship between personality and job performance under various situations. Instead, this study used the working hard and working smart perspective to revisit the relationship between personality and job performance. In this study, a theoretical model was built, and tested by empirical data which were collected online from 300 people who were employed or who had a full-time job. This study found that personality certainly influences job performance through both working-hard and working-smart work styles. Furthermore, three personality traits, including conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness to experience, were empirically shown to influence job performance through hard work. On the other side, extraversion, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience were found to influence job performance though working smart, as stated in the hypothesis. This study shows the effects of each trait on job performance, and discusses the academic and practical implications.

Keywords:

• personality
• job performance
• working hard
• working smart
• workaholism
• creativity