Effects of Principals’ Emotional Intelligence to lead Competencies and Spirituality on their Motivation as Leaders in Indian Elementary Schools

Emotional intelligence, spirituality, and intrinsic motivation to lead, are some buzz words that are coming up to be imperative for the learning environment. The present paper attempts to examine the role of emotional intelligence and spirituality in the motivation of elementary school principals as leaders. In this regard, principals of elementary schools were examined on their levels of emotional intelligence, spirituality, and motivation to lead using Emotional Quotient Test by Chadha and Singh (2003), Measure of Spirituality by Ashmos and Duchon (2000), and Motivation to Lead Scale by Chan and Drasgow (2001). A sample of 100 principals was selected using purposive random sampling technique from the elementary schools of the tri-city i.e., Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Mohali. The sample was homogenous with respect to gender (females), age (35–45) years, marital status (married), socio-economic status (upper middle class) and work experience (varying from 8 to 10 years). Results revealed positive correlations between emotional intelligence and motivation to lead. Additionally, emotional intelligence and spirituality were found to predict the motivation to lead of elementary school principals. These findings suggest that spirituality, self and social awareness of principals as well as principals’ competencies in managing self and others affect their intrinsic motivation which is critical to the development of enabling structure, open interpersonal processes in elementary schools and to student achievement thereby focussing on the development and sustenance of motivation among the elementary school leaders.