A group of researchers from the Faculty of Psychology and Cognitive Science have published a meta-analysis, i.e. a summary of all available research on emotional intelligence and employee performance.
The paper summarises the results of 116 studies conducted on a total sample of almost 18,000 employees.
This is the most comprehensive research in this area conducted to date. The authors of the meta-analysis are Dr Jarosław Grobelny, Patrycja Radke and Daria Paniotova-Maczka.
Emotional intelligence (EI) has long interested psychologists and business practitioners. A lot of research has been conducted on its role at work and how it shapes behaviour. Unfortunately, some of this research leads to contradictory or inconclusive conclusions.
One of the research methods to solve such problems is meta-analysis. To carry it out, the authors used available scientific databases, searching in a systematic way for studies on EI and professional effectiveness published in Polish, English, German, Russian and Ukrainian. Out of almost 300 articles, 99 papers describing the results of 116 studies conducted on a total sample of 17,889 employees were qualified for the final database after applying rigorous criteria.
The results of the study also allow us to conclude that the relationship between EI and occupational performance is strongly dependent on the context in which work is performed. In particular, the differences in the importance of EI for performance across different occupational groups are surprising. It turned out that from an effectiveness perspective, EI was most important for debt collectors, police officers and detectives, and least important for nurses, doctors, scientists and customer service employees.
The paper "Emotional intelligence and job performance: a meta-analysis" was published in the International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion, as well as on ResearchGate.
Read the full meta-analysis in English:
Emotional intelligence and job performance: a meta-analysis
A short summary presentation with the most important results is also available:
View summary presentation