Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Leadership Effectiveness: Mediation Effect of Perceived Organizational Support and Supervisor Support

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the impact of emotional intelligence (EI) on effectiveness of leaders based on a sample of 199 middle managers operating in UAE and Pakistan. Respondents were selected through convenience sampling and survey based questionnaires were used as instrument for data gathering. The research indicated significant relationship between EI and leadership effectiveness, and represents this relation to be mediated through perceived organizational support at organizational level and supervisor support at individual level. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and Preacher & Hayes regression approaches were used to measure mediation effect. The mediation results were significant for both of the mediators. Moreover, the study displays that leaders were more effective when they use emotional intelligence properly. Although there is evidence for the association between emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness, the mediating role of perceived organizational support and supervisor support on this association remained unexplored till now.

Keywords: Emotional intelligence, Leadership Effectiveness, Perceived organizational Support, Supervisor Support