Pursuing a sustainable career: how strengths-based leadership develops career adaptability and compensates for protean career orientation

Abstract

Purpose

Drawing upon strengths-based inclusive work theory, this study explores how strengths-based leadership promotes employee career sustainability, particularly in the absence of protean career orientation (PCO), with career adaptability as a mediator.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-wave survey of 329 Chinese employees tested the moderated mediation model. Hypotheses were assessed using SPSS 26.0 and Mplus 8.3.

Findings

Strengths-based leadership positively influences career adaptability, leading to greater career sustainability. The effect is stronger when PCO is low, highlighting the compensatory role of strengths-based leadership.

Originality/value

The present paper extends the existing literature on strengths-based leadership and unveils that strength-based leadership can compensate for a lack of PCO. Also, it augments strengths-based inclusive work theory and provides meaningful insights to cultivate employee career sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

The cross-sectional design and self-reported data limit causal conclusions. Future research should use longitudinal methods and diverse cultural contexts to improve generalizability.

Citation

Ge, X., Zhang, Q., Xiong, R., Yu, H., Liu, S., Song, S. and Liu, X. (2024), "Pursuing a sustainable career: how strengths-based leadership develops career adaptability and compensates for protean career orientation", Career Development International, Vol. 29 No. 6, pp. 732-746. https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-01-2024-0044