ABSTRACT
This study is on emotional intelligence and implication for career development in selected
Federal Universities in South East, Nigeria. The study sought to assess the significant areas that
require emotional intelligence in the management of selected Federal Universities in South East,
Nigeria; assess the implication of emotional intelligence on the non-academic staff; ascertain the
attributes of emotional intelligence that enhance academic staff career development; determine
the extent of the relationship between motivation and training and examine the extent to which
emotional intelligence affect career development in selected Federal Universities in South East,
Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research design and data were collected from primary
source through questionnaire and oral interview. Data were also obtained from secondary
sources.
The target population of the study comprised both academic and non-academic staff of
Federal Universities in South East, Nigeria. A sample size of six hundred and fifty one (651)
respondents was determined using the Finite population formula of Godden (2004). The chisquare
statistics, Z-test, linear regression and the Pearson product moment correlation
coefficient through the application of statistics package for social science (SPSS 17.0 windows)
were used to test the hypotheses stated. The findings indicated that leadership, negotiation and
decision making are significant areas that require emotional intelligence in the management of
selected Federal Universities in South East, Nigeria; the implication of emotional intelligence on
non-academic staff are team work, job satisfaction and management of stress; self-regulation,
motivation and empathy are attributes of emotional intelligence that enhance academic staff
career development; there is a significant positive relationship between motivation and training
and emotional intelligence has significant effect on career development in selected Federal
Universities in South East, Nigeria. The study concluded that emotional intelligence has
tremendous implication on career development of staff. The study recommended that
management should ensure that the concept of emotional intelligence is developed over the life
span of staff through enhanced training, and also organizations should map out strategies to
manage worker’s stress, which will help in career success.
