Citation
(1999), "Research reports. Emotions lift bosses to the top", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 14 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/jmp.1999.05014aab.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited
Research reports. Emotions lift bosses to the top
Research reports
Emotions lift bosses to the top
New research has provided hard evidence that the "emotional intelligence" of managers can determine how far they progress up the corporate ladder.
A study of 100 general managers over a seven year period, conducted by Dr Victor Dulewicz and Dr Malcolm Higgs, occupational psychologists at Henley Management College, UK, examined the importance of the "softer" skills of managers for example, their ability to express feelings and understand and be sensitive to the needs of others.
Since the publication in 1996 of Daniel Goleman's best-selling book Emotional Intelligence, which first asserted that to be successful in work and life generally, people needed emotional qualities as well as intellectual, there has been massive interest in the topic, but without serious attention being given to its practical uses.
The research has identified important tools for understanding and testing the limits of emotional intelligence (EI) alongside "intellectual intelligence" and "managerial intelligence". Results from management competency-based questionnaires have shown that a knowledge of a manager's emotional intelligence can provide a new insight into the potential of managers and accurately predict their future advancement.
The authors of the Henley working paper, "Emotional intelligence: managerial fad or valid construct?" claim that "The overall results support the view that emotional intelligence can measure management advancement and success very effectively by appraising managers' performance. In addition the combination of emotional and intellectual competencies is a more powerful predictor of 'success' than either measure alone".
For further information please contact: Dr Victor Dulewicz, Henley Management College vicd@henleymc.ac.uk or Dr Malcolm Higgs, Henley Management College malcolmh@henleymc.ac.uk