Title: The role of self-differentiation in predicting Emotional Intelligence and leadership

Authors: Fred J. Jacques, Theresa J.B. Kline

Addresses: Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada. ' Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada

Abstract: There has been significant recent interest and scholarly inquiry into the nature of Emotional Intelligence (EI), in particular its relationship to and impact on leadership. However, little work has been done to date to examine the origins of EI, and how these in turn predict leadership. The present study tests whether self-differentiation is a potential precursor to EI that also has direct and indirect (mediated through EI) relationships with transformational leadership. Findings showed that self-differentiation predicted two of the four aspects of transformational leadership, as well as two of the three elements of EI. The discussion focuses on the study|s theoretical and practical implications.

Keywords: transformational leadership; emotion; work organisation; self-differentiation; emotional intelligence.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWOE.2006.011878

International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion, 2006 Vol.1 No.4, pp.379 - 398

Published online: 29 Dec 2006 *

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