The causal relation between career calling and task performance: A three-wave panel study

Work as a calling theory predicts that perceiving and living out a calling lead to higher task performance, and empirical evidence supports the assumption that perceiving a calling is related to task performance. Yet, the longitudinal precedence between career calling and task performance has not been investigated. This study examines the temporal relationship between career calling and self-rated task performance using a three-wave longitudinal design with 285 US employees. Findings from a cross-lagged panel model analysis indicate that self-rated task performance predicts career calling more strongly than the reverse. These results suggest that self-rated task performance outcomes may drive the development of a career calling, challenging traditional assumptions. The study's implications highlight the importance of performance feedback in cultivating employees' sense of purpose and calling. Future research should explore the boundary conditions of this relationship and consider various performance metrics.