Embracing Effective leadership with Emotional Intelligence

Abstract

People with strong emotional intelligence who collaborate with assurance, dedication, harmony, and synergy are likely to build prosperous, effective businesses. This study's primary goal was to investigate how students' organizational leaders in Tanzania's higher education institutions relate to emotional intelligence and effectiveness as leaders. Under the direction of Fiedler's contingency theory of leadership, the study specifically identified various leadership efficacy levels among students' organizational leaders, investigated various emotional intelligence levels among students' organizational leaders, and looked at how different aspects of emotional intelligence affect the perceived level of leadership efficacy among leaders of student organizations in Tanzanian higher education institutions. In addition, the study adopted a descriptive research design using quantitative research technique. The population of the study included executive students’ organization leaders in 47 Higher Learning Institutions in Tanzania. The rule of thumb theory was used to select 35 universities and university colleges whereby a total of 140 respondents were purposely selected. Furthermore, descriptive statistics, linear regression analysis techniques were employed whereas, various tests including normality test, multicollinearity, and heteroscedasticity were conducted. Further multiple linear regressions with independent t- test, one-way Analysis of Variance methods were employed to analyze data. The findings indicated that, self-awareness, management of emotions, high level of empathy and social awareness significantly predicted the levels of leadership effectiveness among student organization leaders. The study concluded students’ organization leaders with high level of emotional intelligence had higher ability to effectively lead their organizations. Basing on the findings, it was recommended that since emotional competencies and leadership are learned abilities; Higher Learning Institutions should develop sound and continuous programmes to improve emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness aspect of students’ organization leaders to avoid chaotic learning environment.