Kelley, Claire Clayton, Nelesh Dhanpat, Roslyn de Braine
Abstract
In contemporary work environments, characterised by increasing flexibility and hybrid arrangements, employee confidence in actively shaping their roles has become crucial for organisational effectiveness and individual wellbeing. While job crafting behaviours have been extensively studied, limited research exists examining individuals’ self-belief and confidence in their ability to engage in job crafting behaviours. This study explores the concept of job crafting efficacy, a novel theoretical contribution that extends existing job crafting theory by integrating self-efficacy principles. This qualitative study aims to understand how employees conceptualise job crafting efficacy and identify factors that influence their confidence in modifying job tasks, relationships, and cognitive aspects within their roles. The research was conducted within a global financial services organisation using a convenience sampling approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 participants across various organisational levels, with data analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis framework using ATLAS.ti software. Lincoln and Guba’s criteria ensured the trustworthiness of findings. The preliminary findings reveal that job crafting confidence is a multidimensional construct influenced by both individual and organisational factors. Participants demonstrate varying levels of confidence in modifying their roles, with leadership support and psychological safety emerging as critical enablers. Expertise and institutional knowledge provide authority for workplace modifications, while experiential learning through supported failure builds adaptive confidence. Organisational structures that balance autonomy with regulatory constraints facilitate innovation. Recognition and visibility serve as powerful motivators, suggesting that confidence is dynamically shaped by contextual factors rather than being purely individual. These findings contribute to job crafting theory by introducing job crafting efficacy as a distinct construct. Practically, the research provides organisations with insights for developing interventions that enhance employee confidence in role customisation, potentially improving job satisfaction, engagement, performance, and retention in flexible work environments.