Emotional intelligence and happiness: Varied perspectives of supervisors and employees

Abstract

This study uses a mixed-methods approach to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and happiness in administrators and managers within academic libraries and how they relate to the experiences of individual contributor employees. Emotional intelligence is often viewed by library administrators as a critical element in promoting positive workplaces, especially for those employees who have supervisory or administrative responsibilities. Happiness, while rarely considered as such, is more often seen in the inverse - concern about low morale and toxic workplaces - and is thus another critical element. Data from this study shows that administrators and managers self-report higher levels of happiness and emotional intelligence than individual contributor employees.