THE INFLUENCE OF LEADERS’ EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND EMPLOYEES’ EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

The influence of emotional intelligence (EI) on employee engagement (EE) is significant. However, limited research exists on how both perceived leaders' EI and perceived employees’ EI influence EE. Identifying predictive factors that contribute to EE is crucial to organizational success. The current study examined 96 retail employees residing in the U.S. The purpose of the non-experimental, quantitative study was to examine the relationship between perceived leaders' EI and perceived employees' EI on employee engagement in U.S. Southwest region retail organizations. An online multi-sectional survey including demographic questions, the Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT), and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) was employed to collect research data. Participant data were analyzed using regression analyses to test the predictive power of EI on EE. Results revealed that retail employees with higher levels of EI had higher levels of EE. The study outcomes drive practical implications for organizations of all sizes and lead to recommendations for future research.