Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Effectiveness Among Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) is increasingly recognized as a critical competency for effective healthcare leadership. However, empirical evidence examining this relationship in the Indian healthcare context remains limited.
Objective: This study investigates the impact of EI on leadership effectiveness among healthcare leaders in India, aiming to identify whether higher EI is associated with better leadership outcomes.
Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative survey was conducted among 120 healthcare leaders across India between February and November 2025. Participants completed a structured online questionnaire comprising 10 and 15 items assessing EI and leadership effectiveness, respectively. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and analysis of variance were used to analyse the data.
Results: A strong positive correlation was observed between EI and leadership effectiveness (r = 0.893, P <0.001), indicating that higher EI scores are associated with greater leadership effectiveness. Analysis of variance confirmed significant differences in leadership effectiveness across EI (F = 13.13, P <0.001). Key EI dimensions associated with leadership effectiveness included self-awareness, empathy, self-regulation, motivation, and social skills.
Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of EI as a significant predictor of leadership effectiveness in healthcare. Integrating EI training into leadership development programs may enhance team communication, conflict resolution, staff well-being, and patient care outcomes.