Tuesday, February 20, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Scheller College of Business, Room 314.

Zoom link: https://gatech.zoom.us/j/93239267133

Egan Lua

Area: Organizational Behavior

Committee members: Dr. Christina Shalley (chair), Dr. Dong Liu, Dr. Terry Blum, Dr. Katie Badura, and Dr. Kris Byron (Georgia State University)

Title: Aha or Blah?: How Creativity Affects Belonginess and Loneliness Through Workplace Thriving and Stagnation

Abstract: Creative behavior is highly encouraged in the workplace due to the competitive advantage it provides for organizations. While the impact of creativity on employee performance is well-documented, its broader consequences for employees remain relatively unexplored. As a social process, creativity has the potential to enhance individuals' social well-being. However, the mechanisms through which creativity shapes the quality of social relationships are not yet fully understood. Drawing from the socially embedded model of thriving and self-determination theory, I propose that creativity is an overlooked agentic behavior that can contribute to employee thriving within the workplace. Additionally, I suggest that creativity has the potential to mitigate workplace stagnation, a psychological state whereby individuals feel stuck at work, view their work as “busywork” and do not derive joy from their work. I also explore how individuals’ creative role identity can moderate the relationship between creativity and workplace thriving and work stagnation. Finally, I propose that when employees thrive or stagnate as a result of their creative behaviors or a lack thereof, they are likely to experience a greater sense of workplace belongingness or loneliness.