<b>Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Leadership Efficacy in Bahrain's Higher Education </b><b>Sector: A</b><b> </b><b>Mixed-Methods Study</b>
Creators: name: Irshad Saeed, Sadaf
Publisher: name: American University of Bahrain
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 39
subject: Education
classificationCode: 350707
subject: Leadership

description: The purpose of this research was to examine the role of EQ in effective leadership in higher educational organizations operating in Bahrain considering the growing applicability of AI. The major research question of the study aimed at determining the relationship between EQ and leadership outcomes and environment in educational institutions. Furthermore, the study aimed at determining the attitudes of the faculty and staff on the part of EQ in leadership and the way that AI can enhance or disrupt conventional leadership.The literature review brought out some of the key findings of the research hypothesis which include the essence of EQ in leadership. Self- and other-awareness, self- and other-regulation and self- and other- connection is the process, which is called emotional intelligence, being crucial for cultivating trust, empathy, and best decisions. These skills are very useful to facilitate leadership in creating a favorable organizational climate and to handle teams. Past research suggested that knowledgeable leaders with high EQ can better cope with stress, motivate subordinates, and make more sound decisions. Although AI plays a very efficient role in data pertaining matters, it lacks the perspective of Emotional Intelligence and remains a substitute for EQ.To data collected from interviews with leaders within Bahrain’s higher education sector, the study used Thematic analysis, Graphical analysis and SPSS. From the interviews, it became clear that leaders particularly appreciate EQ due to communication skills, conflict management, and teamwork. One of the issues that leaders acknowledged to be critical in building morale is emotional intelligence; they felt the need to ensure that the people that one leads are heard and appreciated. They also stated the EQ plays a significant role in the difficult social interactions which AI cannot facilitate on its own.The graphical analysis provided an understanding of what the faculty and staff believed on the effect of EQ on leadership. According to the results, there was a high awareness of the significance of EQ in determining leadership success. The faculty and staff realized that people with high EQ could interact with subordinates more effectively, listen to their concerns, and promote organizational culture and harmony in the workplace. They also agreed on the fact that although AI could be helpful in managing papers and making data-based decisions, it could not provide emotional or social support to the employees.When analyzed by means of SPSS, these results were further accompanied by a clear preference towards leaders with high levels of their EQ. When leaders had high EQ, the faculty and staff expressed higher levels of satisfaction and engagement as well. They stressed that such leaders could cope with stress, mobilize people and sustain a balance of people at work. This correlates with literature, which highlights the importance of EQ in leadership, especially where stress is high, as in higher learning institutions.The study also focused on exploring the possible enhancement of EQ by AI in leadership behaviors. Some leaders commented that AI should perform generic work and deliver information while leaders should work on people management skills. They promoted voices calling that policies and training regarding the use of AI should be employed efficiently and avoid inflicting emotional tolls on the staff and students.To sum up, it can be suggested that index under study demonstrates that EQ is indeed important for leadership in the context of Bahrain’s HEIs. While utilizing the benefits of AI in terms of productivity and data treatment, EQ is still important for building trust, understanding emotions, and maintaining the organism’s culture. The results imply that enhancing educational leaders’EQ and AI proficiency can improve leadership outcomes, which is why both competencies should be a priority for improvement.