The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Direct Leadership in the Army of the Czech Republic

The article deals with application of emotional intelligence for leaders of direct leadership in the Army of the Czech Republic and its connection with the social climate of their units. Emotional intelligence leadership and social climate is a connection that is currently appearing in research activity and doctrinal army documents and explores. The authors try to find and evaluate the benefits and limits of EI in the field of preparation military personnel. From the currently available research, it is precisely the construct of emotional intelligence that appears as one of the possible ways to develop the necessary skills of commanders to facilitate their work with subordinates. Emotional intelligence involves the ability to correctly identify emotions in oneself and in others, to understand emotions and their language, to manage emotions in oneself and in others and use emotions to support cognitive activities and to motivate adaptive behaviour. Direct leadership is the level where leading people is face to face. These are units, where subordinates are used to seeing their commanders every day. For these functions it is still possible and important to create strong relationships, close cooperation and mutual knowledge of all members of the unit. Commanders facing high decision-making demands in an unstable environment. They build working one’s teams with a favourable social climate and support their psychological resilience subordinates. These aspects are decisive for ensuring the tasks of the unit. The main method is quantitative research, which is carried out using a standardized test MSCEIT emotional intelligence in selected commanders of six units and a non-standardized questionnaire "social climate on the units" in their subordinates. Based on obtained results is submitted methodology of development of emotional intelligence for leaders of a platoon. It contains standard parameters. The thesis also formulates recommendation for pedagogical and research activities and output of doctrine leadership.