Emotional intelligence and its relationship to workplace performance outcomes of leadership effectiveness

Abstract

Purpose - This study seeks to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI), personality, cognitive intelligence and leadership effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach - Senior executives (n = 41) completed an ability measure of EI (MSCEIT), a measure of personality (16PF5) and a measure of cognitive ability (the Wechsler abbreviated scale of intelligence (WASI)). Leadership effectiveness was assessed using an objective measure of performance and a 360° assessment involving each leader's subordinates and direct manager (n = 149). Findings - Correlational and regression analyses revealed that higher EI was associated with higher leadership effectiveness, and that EI explained variance not explained by either personality or IQ. Originality/value - This paper establishes a link between EI and workplace measures of leadership effectiveness. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.