Exploring Emotional Intelligence of Managers Through the Lens of Sex and Gender Role Identity

Abstract

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a vital competency for managers for several job outcomes in today's workplaces and it is claimed that it varies across sex. As we are witnessing a greater number of females into managerial roles in the last two decades an investigation of EI through the lens of sex and the gender role identity that managers assume, might be of interest as there is a paucity of conclusive research findings in this direction. Data was collected from 140 managers employed in the service sector. BEIS (Bhattacharya Emotional Intelligence) and Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) short form was used to measure EI and gender role identity respectively. The emotional intelligence of managers was explained better by gender role identity than sex. The findings of the study show that majority of the respondents were androgynous and higher EI Scores were reported. Significant differences were found between feminine, masculine and androgynous category of gender role identity. JEL Classification: M12