Trait emotional intelligence among future leaders: how business students are prepared for the VUCA world
Journal of Organizational Change Management
ISSN: 0953-4814
Article publication date: 28 November 2023
Issue publication date: 6 February 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to analyse the trait emotional intelligence (TEI) of business students of various programmes. This study aims to answer the question, to what extent these future leaders are uniformly equipped with essential emotional intelligence competences, necessary in the VUCA world.
Design/methodology/approach
The Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue) was used to measure TEI of 120 business students. Spearman's and Tau–Kendall's rank correlation coefficients show the strength of the correlation between age and TEI level. The non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test was employed to evaluate the consistency of TEI-level distributions in selected subgroups of respondents.
Findings
Future business leaders and management specialists are unequally prepared to manage teams and organizational change effectively. Their TEI distribution is significantly different regarding the type of programme of study. Students of “social fields” (Management, Communication and Psychology in Business) show higher TEI than students of “analytical fields” (Economics, Finance and Accounting, Logistics). Master's students are characterized by higher TEI compared to undergraduates. However, there were no statistically significant differences in TEI between: full-time and part-time, female and male, as well as working and non-working students.
Practical implications
The results provide valuable guidance for organizations recruiting junior managers and for business universities.
Originality/value
This research was based on a well-established concept of emotional intelligence using a reliable research tool. The obtained results complement the existing research on TEI of various professional groups and provide a precious reference point for future, more in-depth analyses of TEI.
Keywords
Citation
Zawadzki, K., Wojdyło, M. and Muszyńska, J. (2024), "Trait emotional intelligence among future leaders: how business students are prepared for the VUCA world", Journal of Organizational Change Management, Vol. 37 No. 1, pp. 24-38. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-07-2023-0292
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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