Emotional Intelligence and empowerment of women leaders in South Africa

Abstract

While South Africa has made considerable progress in advancing gender equality, challenges persist in elevating women to leadership positions. Emotional Intelligence (EI), defined as the ability to recognise, manage, and understand one's own emotions while empathising with and prompting the reactions of others, has emerged as a critical factor in women's leadership and development. Research indicates that women leading with high EI are more adept at navigating the intricacies of interpersonal relationships, fostering collaboration, and leading with empathy. Recognising EI as an important aspect of effective leadership, the study aims to explore how women who are in leadership within the context of South African municipalities are impacted by the complexity of EI on decision-making, conflict resolution, team dynamics, and overall organisational success. In South Africa, where women have historically faced systemic barriers to leadership, EI offers a promising path to their empowerment. The research adopted a qualitative approach, and collected data through face-to-face interviews with women who are in leadership positions within the City of Johannesburg municipality. Through a holistic analysis of EI and its connections to women's empowerment in leadership, the study attempts to offer important insights for promoting gender-inclusive and emotionally intelligent leadership practices as well as the capacity to connect on a profound level with colleagues, build diverse and inclusive teams. The study shows that a woman in a leadership position who is emotionally intelligent can create a positive working environment where all the staff members are comfortable and enjoy working. They contribute significantly to the effective functioning of an organisation. Further to the above, it is important for women in leadership positions to have strategies for managing their emotions to ensure effective management. The study recommends that EI should be a requirement for placing women in leadership positions. Using EI as a selection factor for women in leadership roles is a calculated move that will guarantee compassionate and successful leadership. Organisations need to develop specialised training courses that emphasize EI proficiencies like empathy, self-control, self- awareness, and interpersonal skills. Workshops, coaching sessions, and evaluations are some of the initiatives that can be used to help women leaders improve their EI.