Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Transformational Leadership in Modern Organizations.

Abstract

Transformational leadership has emerged as one of the most effective leadership models in modern organizations, characterized by the ability to inspire, empower, and emotionally connect with followers. Emotional intelligence (EI), defined as the capacity to understand and regulate one’s emotions and those of others, has been identified as an essential antecedent of transformational leadership. This study assesses the impact of emotional intelligence on transformational leadership behaviors using data extracted from a cross-sectional organizational study that measured leadership styles using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and emotional intelligence using the Emotional and Social Competency Inventory (ESCI). Findings from the thesis dataset indicate that leaders who score higher in key EI domains—self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management—display significantly higher transformational leadership behaviors, including idealized influence, inspirational motivation, individualized consideration, and intellectual stimulation. Statistical tests, including ANOVA and Pearson correlations, revealed significant positive associations between EI dimensions and overall transformational leadership scores, particularly strong correlations with relationship management and social awareness. Demographic variables such as age and experience showed marginal but notable moderating effects.

The implications of these findings underscore the relevance of EI-focused leadership development programs in modern workplaces, especially in environments requiring collaborative problem-solving and employee engagement. Modern organizations increasingly face complex challenges, rapid technological change, and diverse workforce dynamics. Transformational leadership fueled by EI provides an adaptive leadership style aligned with such evolving demands. This manuscript highlights how emotionally intelligent leaders foster trust, motivation, and performance while cultivating a positive organizational climate. Consistent with existing scholarships, this study reinforces that employees perceive EI-driven transformational leaders as more authentic, empathetic, and vision-oriented, contributing to superior organizational and team outcomes.