Emotional Intelligence and Its Role in Knowledge Management: Effects on Organizational Learning and Business Performance

This study examines the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI), Knowledge Management (KM), and Organizational Learning (OL) in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire from 198 SME owners under the assistance of a quantitative research design and validated through correlation, regression, and t-tests. The findings reveal a statistically significant but weak relationship between EI and KM (r = 0.163, p = 0.022), which shows that emotionally intelligent employees are most likely to have knowledge-sharing behavior. EI, however, does not predict OL significantly as evidenced by the regression analysis (p = 0.171), suggesting other factors affecting learning flexibility in SMEs. The study presents the need for leadership development, systematic learning frameworks, and technologically based knowledge management systems in order to sustain business performance enhancement. These empirical findings provide evidence-based implications to SME owners, policymakers, and researchers to devise more holistic approaches integrating EI, KM, and OL towards enduring business sustainability.