The relationship between emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness in the Zimbabwe medical sector. A case of Harare Central Hospital.

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between emotional intelligence dimensions; self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management; and leadership effectiveness among leaders in the Zimbabwe medical sector. The main study objective was to determine the relationship between emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness in the Zimbabwe medical sector. This was a quantitative study which was informed by a positivist paradigm and it was guided by explanatory design. The research adopted a deductive research approach hence surveys research strategy was applied. Through a probability sampling method, quantitative data was collected from 232 administrators and managers from a population of 700 at Harare Central Hospital. The findings suggested that leaders‘ emotional intelligence, as measured by the self-assessed Emotional Intelligence Appraisal (EIA), had a significant positive relationship with leadership effectiveness, as measured by the Leadership Practices Inventory. The research also showed that emotional intelligence predicts leadership effectiveness. Limitations of the study were provided which informed areas of further research also provide in the last chapter of the report. Based on the research findings and key recommendations, theoretical and practical contributions were provided.