Linking emotional intelligence to professional leadership performance standards

Abstract

This study traced Abu Dhabi public school leaders’ emotional intelligence within the context of professional standards. The study aimed at exploring the emotional intelligence exhibited by school leaders within the anticipated professional standards featured in the areas of leading the community, leading the people, and leading the organization. This exploratory case study uncovered emotional intelligence attributes and capabilities that school leaders demonstrate within their praxis. The study employed qualitative research tools for data collection to pinpoint emotional intelligence attributes, and skills in alignment with the professional standards set by the Abu Dhabi Education and Knowledge Department (ADEK). Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 participants reflecting categories of school leaders that represented various school types. Study findings addressed direct and indirect mediators of emotional intelligence that could impact the improvement of school leaders’ overall performance in addition to validating school leaders’ emotional intelligence attributes relating to performing professional standards that galvanize school changes. Further, this paper addressed challenges school leaders face in terms of their roles and responsibilities and provided recommendations for developing emotional intelligence that contextualize professional performance standards. The authors also suggest a tangible path for further studies and leadership action research to enhance school leaders’ capacity building.