Business Managers/Executives/Administrators
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between first- line managers’ leadership practices, EQ, and workplace spirituality as perceived by the managers’ employees that could positively affect employee productivity, morale, and retention in the U.S. manufacturing industry. METHODOLOGY The overall population in the study consisted of 1,200 employees who reported to a first-line manager in a manufacturing plant. Ninety-seven individuals completed the LPI-Observer, the Emotional and Social Competence Inventory (Boyatzis, 2009), and the Meaning and Purpose at Work Questionnaire (Duchon & Ashmos-Plowman, 2005). The typical respondent was Caucasian (81%), 30 to 49 years old (47%), married (48%), with a bachelor’s degree (31%).
KEY FINDINGS First-line managers’ leadership practices were not significantly correlated with EQ as perceived by their employees. Pearson correlations between leadership practices and workplace spirituality were not significant, although Spearman correlations were (p < .05) in a negative direction. Linear regression analysis of leadership practices by EQ and workplace spirituality was not statistically significant.