The Impact of Educational Leaders Emotional Intelligence of Teachers Performance

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of educational leaders' emotional intelligence on teachers' performance in private schools across the UAE. It aims to identify the types of emotional intelligence demonstrated by educational leaders, understand teachers' perceptions of this impact, and explore how leaders' emotional intelligence affects teachers' performance. Grounded in the theoretical framework of emotional intelligence and leadership theories, the study employs a mixed-methods approach, collecting quantitative data through surveys and qualitative data via semi-structured interviews. The sample was selected using convenience sampling, which consisted of 90 educational leaders and 465 teachers from eight private schools across Ajman, Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. The quantitative component utilized Wong and Law's Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS), Bass and Avolio's Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), and Koopman et al.'s individual work performance scale to assess emotional intelligence and its impact on job performance. Qualitative data were gathered through thematic analysis of interviews with both leaders and teachers to provide deeper insights into the correlations observed in the quantitative phase. Findings indicate that educational leaders with high emotional intelligence, characterized by self-awareness, relationship management, and adequate emotional support, significantly enhance teachers' performance by creating a supportive and motivating environment. Teachers perceive that their leaders' emotional intelligence positively influences job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and overall performance. Limitations include the non-probability sampling method, which may affect generalizability and potential cultural biases in measurement instruments. Recommendations for future research include broadening the sample to include a broader range of institutions and refining measurement tools to better align with the UAE's cultural context. This study underscores the critical role of emotional intelligence in educational leadership and provides actionable insights for improving teacher performance through effective leader-employee interactions.

Keywords: emotional intelligence, educational leadership, teacher performance, private schools, UAE