The Utility of Positive Orientation in Predicting Job Performance and Organisational Citizenship Behaviors

The contribution of positive orientation to organisational behavior has been assessed in three studies. Positive orientation has been conceptualised as a basic disposition to view life and experience from a positive outlook and operationalised as the common latent factor at the core of self‐esteem, life satisfaction, and optimism. In Study 1 ( n = 203), positive orientation predicted in‐role job performance over the effects of its lower‐order components (self‐esteem, optimism, and life satisfaction), the Big Five, and positive affectivity. In Study 2 ( n = 372), positive orientation predicted extra‐role performance (Organisational Citizenship Behaviors), beyond the effects due to its lower‐order components, the Big Five, and positive affectivity. In Study 3 ( n = 311), a brief self‐reported measure of positive orientation predicted in‐role job performance above Core Self‐Evaluations and the conscientiousness trait. The contribution of positive orientation to a better understanding of organisational behavior is discussed.