Emotional intelligence towards entrepreneurial career choice behaviours

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess emotional intelligence levels and their contributions to entrepreneurial career choice behaviours among Malaysian public university students. Design/methodology/approach This study surveyed 369 respondents selected from a population of 87,503 Malaysian public university students using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Respondents were given a three-part questionnaire covering their personal information, their emotional intelligence in terms of self-awareness, emotion management, empathy and social skills and their entrepreneurial career choice behaviours. Findings The results indicate that the surveyed students have high levels of self-awareness and empathy, and moderate levels of emotion management and social skills. This indicates that these students are able to manage their emotions in making decisions and consider people’s emotions. The results also indicate that students who were able to manage their negative emotions were more likely to choose an entrepreneurial career. Research limitations/implications This study aims to help higher institutions focus on emotional intelligence in the entrepreneurship curriculum to help students recognise their potential in terms of entrepreneurial characteristics and behaviours. Students’ involvement in entrepreneurship can foster economic growth in developing countries. A limitation of this study is that it focuses only on second-year undergraduates from public universities in the Selangor area. Originality/value Few studies address emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial career choices among public university students, which this study addresses.

The Effect of Family Environment, Emotional Intelligence, and Creativity on Student Entrepreneurial Interest in the Faculty of Economics, Universitas Negeri Padang

“…Based on research conducted by Fakhreldin (2017) that emotional intelligence has a significant effect on entrepreneurial intentions. In line with research conducted by Othman et al (2018), someone who is able to manage his emotional intelligence prefers a career as an entrepreneur rather than working as an employee or employee.…”

“…A family environment that supports and contributes to children to start a business, will provide a positive stimulus to the individual in building his new business, and also develops when it is already running H4. Emotional intelligence has a positive effect terhada interest in entrepreneurship Othman et al (2018) said that with emotional intelligence that is owned by individuals will shape individual behavior in choosing a career for entrepreneurship by managing, understanding and facilitating their thinking using their emotions. In line with research conducted by Fakhreldin (2017) that emotional intelligence has a significant effect on entrepreneurial intentions.…”

The contribution of emotional intelligence and spirituality in understanding creativity and entrepreneurial intention of higher education students

“…The authors argued that students with knowledge of their own emotions may conduit negative and/or positive affections on the proper identification and resolution of business creation relevant problems. Following this line of thinking, Othman and Muda (2018) also suggested that emotional intelligence is associated with creative and innovative attitudes among students. Individuals with high emotional intelligence are able to generate creative ideas, which eventually shape their entrepreneurial characteristics, ultimately leading to entrepreneurial behaviours (Ngah and Salleh, 2015).…”

“…Students’ emotional intelligence can help them to develop some entrepreneurial characteristics and possibly to have entrepreneurial behaviour (Hassan and Omar, 2016). Othman and Muda (2018) had analysed the importance of emotional intelligence while managing the moments of difficulty in making the right choices for a future profession. Emotional intelligence may be one of the ways to manage feelings of disappointment and help recover the confidence needed to fight such feelings.…”

The Effect of Entrepreneurship Learning and Emotional Intelligence on Entrepreneurial Intention

“…Students with knowledge of their emotions can channel negative or positive affections on the identification and resolution of problems relevant to the creation of the right business. The importance of emotional intelligence, because it has a relationship with creative and innovative attitudes among students [24]. Individuals with high emotional intelligence can generate creative ideas, which form entrepreneurial characteristics [25].…”