The importance of emotional intelligence for the success of teams in Moroccan SMEs

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between emotional intelligence and performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Morocco. Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability of a person to recognize and manage their own emotions and the emotions of others. It can be divided into two dimensions: intrapersonal EI, which concerns the management of one's own emotions, and interpersonal EI, which concerns the management of the emotions of others. To address this issue, we conducted a questionnaire dedicated to Moroccan SMEs more precisely for 328 firms, and used the methodology of Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The results of the study revealed that intrapersonal EI and interpersonal EI are positively related to the performance of the company in the context of Moroccan SMEs. This means that people with high EI tend to achieve better results at work. We also found that the effectiveness of interactions between people can partly explain the relationship between intrapersonal EI and company performance, as well as the relationship between interpersonal EI and company performance. In other words, when team members are able to communicate effectively and manage their own emotions and the emotions of others, this can have a positive impact on the performance of the company.

Keywords: Emotional intelligence (EI), intra-personal and interpersonal, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), The performance of Small and Medium Enterprises -SME.

JEL Classification: C38, D91, F2, G41

Paper type: Empirical research