Abstract
Background: Emotional intelligence is a vital attribute of effective healthcare leadership, influencing communication, team performance, and patient care. Emotionally intelligent leaders are better equipped to manage organizational challenges and foster interprofessional collaboration. However, evidence regarding this relationship among healthcare professionals in Pakistan is limited. Objectives: To assess the correlation between emotional intelligence and leadership skills among healthcare leaders working in public sector hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted from April to August 2024 among 93 doctors selected through non-consecutive convenience sampling. Participants included postgraduate trainees and higher faculty from ten clinical specialties. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire–Short Form (TEIQue-SF), and the Authentic Leadership Questionnaire (ALQ). Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 27 and JAMOVI. Normality was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, and appropriate parametric and non-parametric tests were applied. Pearson’s correlation was used to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence, leadership, and age. Results: The mean leadership score was 59.9 ± 7.27, and the mean emotional intelligence score was 4.52 ± 0.65. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between emotional intelligence and leadership scores. Both variables showed a positive association with age. Higher faculty demonstrated significantly higher emotional intelligence and leadership scores compared to postgraduate trainees. Leadership scores were significantly influenced by overall work experience, while emotional intelligence was associated with marital status, educational level, and work experience. Gender and specialty showed no significant association with emotional intelligence. Conclusion: Emotional intelligence is positively correlated with leadership skills among healthcare professionals. Integrating emotional intelligence training into leadership development programs may enhance healthcare leadership and patient care outcomes.