From Idea to Energy: Examining the Relationship Between Creativity at Work and Vigor

Abstract: Although there are high expectations regarding employee creativity, its impact on individuals is insufficiently explored. This study investigates whether and how creativity benefits energy. We propose that workplace creativity is positively linked to vigor, mediated by perceived job performance and autonomy need satisfaction. We tested our model with a three-wave survey study ( N = 241). There was no support for a time-lagged effect of creativity on the mediators, motivating the test of a model that presupposes a concurrent effect of creativity on the mediators (i. e., T1 creativity → T1 mediators → T2 vigor; T2 creativity → T2 mediators → T3 vigor). Results indicated a consistent positive association between creativity and subsequent vigor, which was mediated through job performance and autonomy need satisfaction. A scenario-based experiment ( N = 312) substantiated the causal effect of creativity on the mediators. This study suggests that workplace creativity, despite involving various demanding processes, has the potential to enhance employee vigor.