Being Successful in a Creative Profession: The Role of Innovative Cognitive Style, Self-Regulation, and Self-Efficacy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test a model that proposes that innovative cognitive style and self-regulation (setting priorities, planning work activities, and monitoring time and task progress) are related to the self-reported success of architects. We investigated two aspects of the success: as designers and as business people. To this end, we examined the mediating role of self-efficacy in these relationships. DATA/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: We collected data using a web-based survey among 276 architects in the Netherlands. These were architects that either managed and/or owned a company, including freelance architects. FINDINGS: Innovative cognitive style was related directly and indirectly, via design self-efficacy, to the self-rating of being a successful designer. Self-regulation, via self-efficacy, was indirectly related to being a successful designer, and directly related to being a successful businessperson. In addition, design success was related to success as a businessperson. IMPLICATIONS: This study shows that self-regulation at work is related to self-rated success in design and business. We regard self-regulation to be a form of actively managing work tasks, identified as an increasingly important type of behavior at work. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study is one of the first to investigate the self-regulation of creative professionals that included both design and business aspects. We focused on three aspects of self-regulation, and tested our model using structural equation modeling.