The Effect of Nationality Differences on the Emotional Intelligence

Previous studies related to manager effectiveness and organizational culture have determined that emotional intelligence (EI) is a critical predictor of intercultural adjustment and business success. However, few investigators have examined the relationship between EI and nationality differences. In today’s globalized business environment, such understanding is crucial to the development of more effective leadership programs for international workers. This quantitative study explored the degrees to which the EI of organizational managers varied across nationalities. A theoretical framework, provided by several theories related to personality, leadership, and types of intelligence, created a lens through which to analyze study results. The Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire–Short Form was used to gather data on EI from a random sample of over 200 company leaders. At least 40 participants from each of 5 countries—Canada, Mexico, Slovakia, Turkey, and the United States—were included. The research question was tested using analysis of variance to determine any role of nationality in the EI of company leaders.