ABSTRACT

Adopting a qualitative approach to the investigation of high achievement, the authors analyzed how high-achieving women in the Swedish workplace made meaning of positive and negative experiences in their work. The data consisted of interviews with 15 women identified as being high achieving in their respective field, and it was analyzed using grounded theory methodology. The women described five distinct experiences that highlighted both the bright side and the dark side to high work performance: (1) going the extra mile in their work, (2) reaching for career goals, (3) experiencing flow and a love for work, (4) working independently and taking the road less traveled, and (5) having high standards and aiming for perfection. The empirical findings relate to existing research literature on grit, work engagement, flow, and burnout. Implications for employers who want to retain and develop high achievers are discussed. The findings suggest that high-achieving women experience it as personally meaningful to engage in high-performance behavior as long as the benefits experienced outweigh the costs, and they are able to do their work on their own terms.

摘要

作者采用定性的方法来调查高成就，从而分析了瑞典工作场所中的高成就女性如何在工作中带来积极和消极体验的意义。数据包括对15名女性的访谈，这些女性在各自领域中都取得了很高的成就，并使用扎根的理论方法进行了分析。这些女性描述了五种截然不同的经历，这些经历突显了高绩效表现的光明面和阴暗面：（1）在工作中多加努力；（2）达到职业目标；（3）经历潮流并热爱工作，（4）独立工作，走少的路，（5）高标准，追求完美。实证发现与有关砂砾，工作投入，工作流和倦怠的现有研究文献有关。讨论了想要保留和发展高成就者的雇主的含义。研究结果表明，只要获得的收益超过付出的代价，高成就的女性就会对从事高绩效的行为感到个人意义重大，并且她们能够按照自己的条件开展工作。