“The Impact of EI On Job Performance in ICICI Bank”

Abstract: The present study examines the impact of Emotional Intelligence (EI) on job performance among employees of ICICI Bank in Agra, India. Emotional Intelligence, defined as the ability to perceive, understand, and regulate emotions in oneself and others, has increasingly been recognized as a vital factor influencing workplace effectiveness, particularly in service-oriented industries such as banking. The research adopted a descriptive and analytical design, collecting data from 150 employees across various demographic categories, including gender, age, and work experience. Statistical tools, including Chi-square tests and correlation analysis, were applied to determine associations between EI and demographic variables, as well as the relationship between EI and performance outcomes. The findings revealed that gender was significantly associated with EI levels, with female employees exhibiting relatively higher emotional intelligence than their male counterparts. In contrast, age and work experience did not show significant associations with EI. Most importantly, a very strong positive correlation (r ≈ 0.95, p < 0.001) was observed between EI and job performance, indicating that employees with higher EI consistently achieved superior performance levels. The study concludes that Emotional Intelligence is a critical predictor of employee effectiveness in the banking sector, surpassing the influence of traditional demographic factors. Based on these insights, the research recommends the integration of EI training, recruitment assessments, mentoring, and well-being programs into organizational policies to strengthen workforce capabilities. Overall, this study positions EI not as a peripheral soft skill but as a strategic competency essential for sustaining performance, customer satisfaction, and organizational growth in a competitive banking environment.