Positive Innovation: Individuals engaging character strengths to drive the innovative process
Keith Gatto and Sean Freeder
Citation: Gatto, K., & Freeder, S. (2025). Positive Innovation: Individuals engaging character strengths to drive the innovative process. European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 9, 2, 1-14. https://www.nationalwellbeingservice.org/volumes/volume-9-2025/volume-9-article-2
Processing dates: Submitted 3 June 2024; Resubmitted 7 October 2024; Accepted 15 November 2024; Published TBC
Abstract
Background: Innovation is a social-psychological phenomenon critical in creating economic growth and long-term organizational stability. A key ingredient of innovation are the employees who engage in work behaviours that support the innovation process. Therefore, managers must find new ways to motivate employees toward innovative work behaviour. While a broad set of
behaviours have been studied concerning innovation, little research has investigated how positive psychology’s character strengths could be harnessed to motivate innovative work behaviour
within organizations.
Objective: The objective of the study is to determine if there is a meaningful relationship between various character strengths and the three stages of innovation.
Method: Working adults (N-790) were randomly selected and asked to take the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths and a supplemental questionnaire comprised of questions regarding the innovation process and participant demographics. A multivariate regression analysis was conducted to investigate which character strengths correlated positively with the various stages
of the innovation.
Results: Our study found that six-character strengths (bravery, perspective, leadership, curiosity, creativity, and zest) correlated with the various stages of innovation (idea generation, idea promotion, and idea realization). We propose that these six positive psychological traits are signature strengths of innovative work behaviour and advance a theoretical framework we call positive innovation. Our research examines these signature strengths in both innovation-oriented and general work cultures.
Conclusion: Positive psychology’s character strengths offer a new way for leaders to motivate employees toward innovative work behaviour and foster a positive culture focused on exceptional performance.
Keywords: innovation; positive psychology; teams; leadership; organizational performance; Character Strengths
Article coming soon
Biographies
Keith P Gatto is with Penn State World Campus, Department of Psychology, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Email: kug523@psu.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithgatto
Web: https://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/penn-state-online-psychology-ofleadership-masters-degree
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5602-1447
Sean Freeder is with the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
Full bio: https://webapps.unf.edu/faculty/bio/N01473317
Web: https://seanfreeder.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5751-7778