The role of trait emotional intelligence in healthcare leadership

The skillful perception and management of others’ feelings alongside the ability to manage one’s own emotions and to harness them to get the best out of others are all critical leadership functions. They are also central tenets of the psychological construct of Trait Emotional Intelligence (EI). We review the construct of Trait EI, its relevance to healthcare delivery in an era of patient-centred care, and the compelling evidence base regarding its role in effective healthcare leadership across the gamut of healthcare roles from the individual clinician, through middle management right through to the senior board level. We pay particular attention to its strong links to transformational leadership, which is rooted in the capacity to engage and work on the interpersonal level. We conclude by reviewing the implications of these findings for the development of leadership training programmes in healthcare.