The most valued emotional intelligence traits for managers

Emotional intelligence has been gaining increasing interest in todays business environment. In this thesis, the main question is asked from recruiting managers point of view: What emotional intelligence traits do they value most when they hire new people? Theory part of this thesis focuses on the history and present of emotional intelligence. Thesis defines concepts used in this study, and considers previous study on emotional intelligence. Thesis focuses on Reuven Bar-On´s fifteen competencies of emotional intelligence. This thesis entails two studys. Studies are based on Reuven Bar-On´s model of emotional intelligence and fifteen traits mentioned in Reuven Bar-On´s material. First study is a content analysis, researching published job advertisements. Study is conducted as quantitative analysis based on job advertisements published in two main newspapers in Finland. Second study is conducted as a mixed methods analysis, by interviewing people who have experience from hiring people and who are familiar with the concept emotional intelligence. This study was made from social point of view and in a narrative way, asking people to explain in their own words what emotional intelligence traits they value when they are hiring people. The material in this thesis approaches emotional intelligence from a perspective of which traits possessed by an employee most benefit the employer and / or the company, per opinion of a recruiting manager. The goal of this thesis is to build options for company HR and managers who would like to focus on emotional intelligence abilities of their employees and see which traits are commonly valued among recruiting managers and to compare how their employees match these valued traits. This thesis can also offer guidance for people applying for manager positions by helping them understand which traits are valued by recruiting managers

The emotional intelligence skills managers valued by recruiters and how to develop them

The purpose of this paper is to explore and evaluate which emotional intelligence skills recruiters value the most when they recruit new managers in Finland and in the Western world, and to make suggestions on how these skills can be developed. On the basis of the research conducted with mixed-methods approach, the most valued emotional intelligence skills were interpersonal relationship skills, independence, self-awareness, social responsibility, assertiveness, flexibility, optimism, happiness, and stress tolerance

Recruiting Happy, Socio-emotionally Balanced and Mature Managers in Finland and Elsewhere

The purpose of this paper is to explore and evaluate which emotional intelligence skills Finnish recruiters value in job ads the most when they seek new managers mainly in Finland. The results were validated by doing interviews in a group of a LinkedIn, which called themselves as “The emotional intelligence network”. The results of these interviews were used as an analysing tool by comparing Western recruiters emotional intelligence requirements with skill requirements found from Finnish job ads. We also include suggestions on how these skills can and should intentionally be developed. On the basis of the research conducted with mixed sample and methods approach, recruiters mainly in Finland, but also in other Western countries, seek happy, socio-emotionally balanced and mentally matured managers. Happy managers are positive, optimistic and good in interpersonal relationships. Socio-emotionally balanced managers are at the same time independent and flexible and have good tolerance of stress. Mentally matured managers are self-aware, socially responsible and assertive. This paper provides guidance for recruiters regarding which emotional intelligence skills they should look more closely into when they hire new people for managerial positions. Secondly, the paper reveals which emotional intelligence skills the applicants for managerial positions should focus on in order to promote their careers. Another purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of how these emotional intelligence skills can be developed. We claim that these skills can and should be developed