The effects of emotional intelligence on leadership effectiveness (A prospective case study of three industrial companies in Iraq)

Abstract

The research aimed to determine the main effects of emotional intelligence on leadership principles related to three industrial companies. For this purpose, six leaders of three industrial companies were interviewed to unveal the role of their own emotional intelligence on their leadership. Results stressed the importance of emotional intelligence and its role in enhancing leadership, through three axes, namely, self-awareness and decision-making, empathy and managing relationships, as well as effective communication and conflict management. The responses of the interviewees indicated that self-awareness improves decision-making capacities of leaders; whereas their effective communication, conflict management and empathy help them to be good social leaders, to positively motivate their teams of work, as well as to play an appropriate leadership role.