Influence of emotional intelligence on job performance

Abstract

Emotional intelligence (EI) has become a familiar term among educators, counselors, and business leaders alike. The influence of emotional intelligence on job performance was tested among 43 instructional staff from Opportunities Industrialization Centre, Ghana. The general objective of the study was to assess the relationship between emotional intelligence and job performance. A 25item Boston EI questionnaire and job performance evaluation form was used to measure the participants’ level of emotional intelligence and job performance. The results showed a correlation between emotional intelligence and job performance indicating that an increase in emotional intelligence leads to an increase in job performance. This relationship was weak and not significant under a Pearson’s correlation test (chi-square).The research also showed that most respondents between the ages of 30 – 39 years needed remedial work on their emotional intelligence. Also there was no difference in EI (including the elements of EI) in terms of gender. Likewise, job performance was not different with respect to gender. The research recommended that management educate the entire staff, especially, the HR department on the importance of EI on job improvement through organizing of seminars and workshops.