The concept of job crafting

A manufacturing plant worker forges new relationships with co-workers and takes on the extra task of building a workshop shelving unit. A chef reimagines their job as an opportunity to practice culinary art and give a little joy to customers. A telephone salesperson uses their script as an opportunity to practice acting out different characters to help prepare for an upcoming performance outside work. All these examples relate to the practice of job crafting. Dr Tristan W Casey, Dr Xiaowen Hu and Prof Chia-Huei Wu look into the concept of job crafting, revealing the findings of two recent academic studies and at some of the positive outcomes for professionals who structure and shape their jobs with purposeful intent.