Emotional Intelligence and Its Role in the Development of Leadership Characteristics of Managers

Abstract

Emotional intelligence is a human capacity (to perceive, understand, and manage emotions) that has an important impact on individual's personal, professional, and social life, and contributes to their growth, well-being, and success. This chapter examines the specific role of emotional intelligence in the formation of basic and necessary skills and characteristics of leaders and in the exercise of effective leadership, as an element of organizational behavior, which drastically affects the attitudes, perceptions, performance of human resources, diffusing positive results throughout the organization. Its utility in management and in HRM, i.e. in development and cultivation of EI in the managers of organizations, in applying EI-based criteria in the selection of staff and managers, in the design of training and education programs and, overall, in the training of people-centered and qualitative management and leadership that will lead people and organizations to growth and success, was substantiated, as well.