The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Leadership Effectiveness: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

                        Emotional intelligence (EI) is a set of abilities that enable individuals to perceive, understand, manage, and express emotions effectively. EI has been shown to be a critical factor in leadership effectiveness, with leaders who possess high levels of EI consistently demonstrating superior leadership outcomes. This meta-analysis examines the relationship between EI and leadership effectiveness by synthesizing the findings of 52 empirical studies. The results provide strong support for the positive relationship between EI and leadership effectiveness, with a mean correlation coefficient of 0.39. Furthermore, the meta-analysis identifies several moderators of the relationship, including the level of leadership (senior versus middle or grassroots), the type of organization (profit versus non-profit), and the cultural context (Eastern versus Western). These findings suggest that EI is a malleable and valuable skill for leaders at all levels, and that organizations can enhance leadership effectiveness by investing in EI development programs.