A Critical Examination of the Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Transformational Leadership
Year: 2010
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The buoyant research interest in the constructs emotional intelligence (EI) and transformational leadership (TFL) is a testament to the crucial role of emotional skills at work. EI is often described as an antecedent of TFL, and several empirical studies report a positive relationship between these variables. On closer inspection, however, there may be methodological factors, such as common method variance, that potentially undermine the validity of findings. Using a multi‐rater assessment (N = 227), this study sought to overcome the problem of method variance, whilst at the same time evaluate its potential presence by comparing same‐source and non‐same‐source data. Findings suggest that, when using a strong methodological design, no relationship between EI and TFL is found. Thus, these findings renew the demand for scientific rigour in the design of studies to enhance their validity. The theoretical ramifications of this study are such that management scholars need to re‐conceptualize the relationship between EI and TFL.
Source: Journal of Management Studies
Authors: Dirk Lindebaum, Susan Cartwright
Institutions: University of Manchester, Lancaster University
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2168079141