Acting and Performing: The Influence of Manager Emotional Intelligence

We examined the predictive role of manager emotional intelligence (MEI) with regard to emotional labor efforts and outcomes relationships. Several hypotheses were tested to evaluate the influence of MEI on the effects of... [ view full abstract ]

We examined the predictive role of manager emotional intelligence (MEI) with regard to emotional labor efforts and outcomes relationships. Several hypotheses were tested to evaluate the influence of MEI on the effects of emotional labor activities employed by subordinates (e.g., surface and active deep acting). Relationships were examined between the emotional labor efforts employed by subordinates and their level of depressed mood, as well as the supervisory evaluations of the subordinates' emotional performance resulting indirectly and directly from the emotional labor activities. Specifically, we hypothesized that MEI will influence the performance of emotional labor and the effects of such activities on depressed mood and emotional performance. Also, findings indicate that MEI moderates the impact of depressed mood on emotional performance. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.