The importance of Emotional Intelligence in Effective Leadership across Multi-Disciplinary Organisational Boundaries

AimsPublic health leaders must operate in complex systems consisting of many disciplines, departments and organisations. Emotional intelligence may be particularly important for effective leadership across these multi-disciplinary organisational boundaries where the leader is working without hierarchical authority and with teams from different professional backgrounds. MethodsA narrative review of the literature to examine whether emotional intelligence is necessary for effective transformational leadership, and a discussion of the use of emotional intelligence in transformational leadership across multi-disciplinary organisational boundaries.ResultsThere is disagreement within the literature about whether emotional intelligence adds any value to cognitive intelligence and technical ability in the ability to lead effectively. However, some studies have identified emotional intelligence as an important attribute in enabling people to lead without formal authority. ConclusionsEmotional intelligence is an important attribute for effective leadership across multi-disciplinary organisational boundaries. The recognition and promotion of emotional intelligence within public leaders is necessary to achieve the delivery of public health goals.