The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between work engagement and multiple dimensions of employee performance, as mediated by open-mindedness. Survey data were obtained from 186 employees of a food processing plant and the findings were cross-validated in an independent convenience sample (N = 308). Analyses revealed that the more engaged the employees were, the more they displayed extra-role and in-role performance. As expected, these associations were partially mediated by open-mindedness. Results were ambiguous for counterproductive performance, though. The current study shows why it is important for both employers and employees to invest in engaged employees: there is a relationship with better performance, which can partly be explained by the fact that engagement is associated with open-mindedness. Hence, this study uncovers an underlying psychological process that might explain why engaged workers are high performers (read more).