Team Emotional Intelligence: Emotional Processes as a Link Between Managers and Workers

Rosa Mindeguia; Aitor Aritzeta; Alaine Garmendia; Edurne Martinez-Moreno; Unai Elorza; Goretti Soroa

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.619999

Frontiers in Psychology (Mar 2021)

Team Emotional Intelligence: Emotional Processes as a Link Between Managers and Workers

Rosa Mindeguia,
Aitor Aritzeta,
Alaine Garmendia,
Edurne Martinez-Moreno,
Unai Elorza,
Goretti Soroa

Affiliations

Rosa Mindeguia: Department of Basic Psychological Processes and Their Development, Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
Aitor Aritzeta: Department of Basic Psychological Processes and Their Development, Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
Alaine Garmendia: Mechanical and Industrial Production Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Mondragón, Mondragón, Spain
Edurne Martinez-Moreno: Department of Social Psychology and Methodology of Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
Unai Elorza: Mechanical and Industrial Production Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Mondragón, Mondragón, Spain
Goretti Soroa: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.619999
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12

Abstract

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Research has shown that transformational leaders are able, through emotional contagion mechanisms, to transmit their emotions and boost positive feelings among their followers. Although research on leadership and team processes have shown a positive relation between transformational leadership and workers' well-being, there is a lack of studies examining the “black box” of this association. The present study aimed to assess the mediation effect of team emotional intelligence (TEI) of the management team on the relationship between management's transformational behaviors and employees' responses. Data were gathered from two sources: 1,566 managers grouped into 188 teams pertaining to a total of 90 firms, and 4,564 workers from the same 90 firms. The results showed that management team TEI and the emotional state of “passion” among employees had a full mediation effect on the relationship between management teams' transformational leadership and employees' cohesion. Implications of these results are discussed.

Published in Frontiers in Psychology

ISSN: 1664-1078 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology

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