Career calling and team member proactivity: The roles of living out a calling and mentoring

Abstract With the growing interest in joint effects of individual and contextual factors predicting team member proactivity, this paper examines why when pursuing one's career calling can lead to proactivity. Drawing on Work as a Calling Theory, we propose that “living out calling” explains employees' perceived positively relates proactivity especially employee receives high levels mentoring support. Our hypotheses are tested using multisource time‐lagged study design with sample 296 dyads Chinese employees their direct supervisors. We found support for mediating role living (Time 2) positive relationship between perceiving 1) 3). Mentoring moderated link such received more mentoring, was positive, whereas under lower negative. Similarly, indirect through at higher but negative mentoring.