Identifying principles of alcoholics anonymous that enhance recovering alcoholic leaders' emotional intelligence: A modified Delphi study

This qualitative study, using the modified Delphi method, was designed to explore the application of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) principles by four recovering alcoholic leaders in the United States to their business environment, and to consider possible contributions to enhanced emotional intelligence (EI). Mayer and Salovey defined EI as four branches of abilities related to the accurate perception, use, understanding, and regulation of emotions. The results of this study extended and clarified the findings of previous researchers (Billard, 2001; Clarke, 2005; Landherr, 2009), who found an interesting link between participating in AA and its possible contribution to a leader's EI. The modification to the Delphi was the interview process in Round Three, which gave the recovering alcoholic leaders an opportunity to elaborate on the consensus responses from Round Two. The data from the research was analyzed using the constant comparative method and identified seven themes. Within the themes, the analysis supported the recovering alcoholic leaders' use of AA principles of honesty, open-mindedness, willingness, hope, faith, courage, integrity, humility, accountability, restitution, empathy, spiritual awareness, forgiveness, collegiality, and service. The recovering alcoholic leaders credited, to a great extent, participation in AA with the ability to apply these principles effectively in their leadership positions. The recovering alcoholic leaders also displayed enhanced EI, demonstrating abilities in all four branches of Mayer and Salovey's conceptualization of EI. Findings could be useful for current leaders, current recovering alcoholics, and designers of EI training and development programs.