Emotional Intelligence as a Catalyst for Organizational Performance: An Empirical Study in the Ethiopian National Sport Federation

The main purpose of this research was to examine the impact of emotional intelligence on organizational performance within Ethiopian national sports federations, addressing gaps in the literature on sports organizations and developing countries like Ethiopia. The researchers used a quantitative approach with a correlational design. Data were collected from 296 administrators using the Cherniss and Goleman emotional intelligence survey and Kaplan’s scale for measuring performance. Using quantile regression, data analysis was conducted with SPSS version 28, which revealed a positive correlation between overall emotional intelligence and organizational performance (r = 0.621, p < 0.05). Emotional awareness (β = 0.120, p = 0.012) and emotional management (β = 0.114, p = 0.018) positively influenced organizational performance. Conversely, social emotional intelligence (β = -0.106, p = 0.025) and relationship management (β = -0.104, p = 0.035) negatively affected organizational performance. These findings highlight the power of emotional intelligence in enhancing governance, building resilience, and nurturing athletes, especially when resources are limited, though caution is advised regarding reliance on social skills. Practically, we advocate for tailored emotional intelligence training to help these sports federations remain competitive internationally.