Job crafting, flow, and job performance: A mediational analysis

Orientation: This study investigated the indirect effect of work-related flow on the relationship between job crafting and in-role job performance. Research purpose: To determine whether job crafting as a job redesign approach is helpful for employees’ experience of work and job performance. Motivation for the study: Most research has focused on the direct relationship between job crafting and performance or engagement as a mediator of this relationship. We propose work-related flow as an alternative explanation to engagement for the relationship between job crafting and performance. Research approach/design and method: We used a cross-sectional research design. A sample of South African working adults (n = 256) completed the Job Crafting Questionnaire, Work-Related Flow Inventory and Job Performance Scale. We used structural equation modelling to investigate the indirect relationship. Main findings: Work-related flow mediates the relationship between job crafting and performance. A negative relationship exists between job crafting and performance after controlling for work-related flow. Practical/managerial implications: The results suggest that job crafting increases work-related flow. Work-related flow, in turn, is related to improved job performance. Therefore, employees might consider implementing job crafting as an accessible strategy to improve their job performance. Contribution/value-add: This study supports our hypotheses that work-related flow mediates the relationship between job crafting and performance. Future research should investigate whether this indirect relationship adds incremental validity to work engagement.