General intelligence and emotional intelligence in senior management in the distribution sector: An applied analysis with synthetic indicators

Abstract

Abstract This study investigates the importance of General Intelligence (GI) and Emotional Intelligence (EI) to leadership skills among a sample of managers. It presents a methodology based on constructing two synthetic indicators that aggregate and measure the different components of EI and GI. The relationship between the two indicators and a one‐dimensional indicator that measures leadership capacity is then studied. This methodology is applied to data taken from questionnaires sent to hierarchical superiors in a leading international company in the distribution sector. The results of the study conducted on a sample of managers show that the intensity and direction of the effect of GI and EI on leadership capacity are similar, positive and significant in both cases.