Knowledge Sharing and Psychological Resilience: A Cluster Analysis of Future-Oriented Competencies

Abstract

Knowledge-sharing behaviours play an increasingly significant role in shaping individual psychological resilience, particularly amidst dynamic social and professional transformations (the VUCA and BANI environments). Psychological resilience is understood here (Seligman, 2023) as the ability to cope with adversity, adapt to new situations and maintain emotional balance despite stress. In the subject literature, it is conceptualised not as a static personality trait, but rather as a cultivable competency. This premise inspired a study aimed at exploring respondents' perspectives on what Seligman defines as key future competencies in his book "Tomorrowmind: Thriving at Work with Resilience, Creativity, and Connection—Now and in an Uncertain Future". According to the propositions presented in that book, the most important skill in a world characterised by volatility and uncertainty is the ability to adapt to specific conditions. Seligman posits that this trait is contingent upon the following dimensions: interpersonal relationships, resilience, a sense of meaning at work, prospection and creativity. The author of the present study expanded Seligman's proposed set of indicators to include selected aspects of knowledge sharing. This analysis focused on the competencies of building adaptability and workplace well-being aimed at defining the position of knowledge sharing behavior among other soft competencies as well as studying the relation between the cultivation of individual resilience and behaviors pertaining to knowledge sharing. Cluster analysis was employed to process the research data, enabling the identification of variable groups (skills) that respondents perceived to be of similar importance. Consequently, the analysis revealed that knowledge-related competency domains, do not create separate cluster but emerged within clusters emphasising the comprehension of the meaning and purpose of work, alongside the skills of creativity and prospection—namely, the anticipation of potential developmental scenarios.