The Emotional Intelligence of Leaders as Antecedent to Leader-Member Exchanges: A Field Study

Abstract

Eighty elected leaders and 388 followers were sampled to test the relationships between leaders’ emotional intelligence and the quality of leader-member exchange. Results of the field study found a significant relationship between leaders’ emotional intelligence (total) and leader-member exchange quality. Specific subscales of emotional intelligence were also predictive of leader-member exchange theory. Leaders’ empathetic response and interpersonal skills each correlated with leader-member exchange. Implications and directions for research are discussed.

Citation

Barbuto, J.E. and Bugenhagen, M.J. (2009), "The Emotional Intelligence of Leaders as Antecedent to Leader-Member Exchanges: A Field Study", Journal of Leadership Education, Vol. 8 No. 2, pp. 135-146. https://doi.org/10.12806/V8/I2/RF2