| Ineffective leadership within police organizations has resulted in worker disengagement, absenteeism, and high turnover. Researchers have theorized a relationship exists between emotional intelligence (EI), leadership effectiveness and leadership styles; however, minimal research focuses on these relationships within law enforcement, particularly among African American law enforcement executives. Situational leadership theory, full range leadership model, and trait EI theory comprised the theoretical frameworks used in this study. The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess the relationship between ethnicity, EI, and leadership styles by extending prior research that examined similar correlations among Caucasian law enforcement executives. The research questions addressed the relationship between ethnicity, EI and leadership styles. Data were collected from 130 African American officers from the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5X) and Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue-SF) instruments. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed to test the hypotheses. The results showed a significant relationship between EI and the transformational and laissez-faire leadership styles of these African American law enforcement executives. No relationship between EI and transactional leadership style was observed. Results of t-test comparisons between African American and Caucasian law enforcement executives indicated differences in EI and leadership styles. Social change implications include expanding training and leadership development programs for emerging leaders and developing EI competencies and skills of executives within law enforcement. |
