An Examination of the Relationship between Idea Generation versus Idea Implementation and Subsequent Self-Efficacy and Positive Affect

The influence of positive affect on creativity at work is well established in the organizational psychology literature, but evidence about whether creativity predicts positive affect still remains ambiguous, with some studies showing a positive but others a null effect. We address these issues arguing that novel idea implementation, but not idea generation, predicts positive feelings expressed in enthusiasm, joy, and inspiration over time, due to the sense of mastery embedded in the state of self-efficacy. This process was supported in a 10-week diary study using within-subjects multilevel modeling. Results showed that idea implementation is positively related to self-efficacy the following week, which in turn is positively associated with positive affect within the same week. Thus, over the mid-range lifespan, positive affect is not only a driver of creativity but also a function of this form of performance. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications derived from this study.