Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Effectiveness – Are Women Leaders Better

Abstract

Emotional intelligence plays a vital role in the formation women's leadership characteristics.  Women leaders displaying high emotional intelligence excel in managing their own and others' emotions, resulting in team unity, better communication, and conflict resolution. Moreover, emotional intelligence enhances women leaders' ability to adjust their leadership approaches to various contexts and individuals, thus augmenting their overall efficacy. The success of leadership effectiveness ultimately relies on the collaboration between emotional intelligence and leadership competencies which enables women to exploit on their strengths in mentorship, motivation, and collaboration. This research emphasis on women in executive positions in Indian corporate sector. The study involves a qualitative approach, applying thematic analysis. Data collection involved interviews with twelve women executives who have acquired senior leadership roles in Indian corporations. The analytical process enabled the identification of patterns and themes within the gathered data relating to emotional intelligence. The emergent themes incorporate self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation, and social skills. These components discover the impact of women leadership on subordinates, focusing how their unique leadership style improves transparency in communication, employee participation, team cohesion, inclusiveness, and trustworthiness within the workforce. The exclusive approach of women leaders contributes for developing positive organizational characteristics. Finally, the study concludes that women leaders achieve a competitive advantage in organizational leadership effectiveness. Their discriminating emotional awareness enables them to empathize with team members, nurture healthy relationships, and foster inclusive work environments.