Leader Behaviour, Emotional Intelligence, and Team Performance at a UK Government Executive Agency During Organizational Change

ABSTRACT

This paper presents three studies exploring the relationship between performance psychology variables and performance within a UK Government Executive Agency during substantial organizational change. Study 1 examined relationships between transformational leadership behaviours, emotional intelligence (EI), cohesion, and team performance. Task cohesion interacted with EI to predict performance. Specifically, it was found that use of emotions for performance partially mediated the relationship between cohesion and team performance. Study 2 interviewed team leaders about their EI and leadership behaviours and how these influenced cohesion and performance during this organizational change. Team leaders reported using a number of different strategies with their team for cohesion and performance benefits. Study 3 interviewed the head and deputy head of the leaders from studies 1 and 2 about how our findings had been received and were being used. Reported findings from studies 1 and 2 resonated well with the head and deputy, and had been used to develop a leadership charter and skills matrix to monitor leadership behaviours and identify areas for improvement. These studies offer a unique insight into the behaviours of team leaders within the agency, emphasizing the perceived importance of effective leader behaviours and EI for team member cohesion and performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Leadership
• emotional intelligence
• cohesion
• performance
• strengths-based psychology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on Contributors

Ryan Lewis has an MBA from Cardiff University, United Kingdom and is currently a Graduate Employee at Acorn Recruitment, UK.

Dr. Rich Neil is a Reader in Sport and Exercise Psychology in the Cardiff School of Sport. He is also the Universities Professional Doctorate Portfolio Manager. Rich has provided a range of consultancy services to athletes, coaches and NGBs. To inform this, Rich is a British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Chartered Sport Scientist (accredited for Sport Psychology Support), British Psychological Society Chartered Psychologist, and Health Care Professions Council Registered Sport Psychologist. Rich has a number of research interests that involve collaboration with academics UK wide and overseeing numerous Ph.D. candidates. These interests include Resiliency, Stress, Well-being and Performance, Life Skill Development, and Leadership.

Dr. Chris Wagstaff is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS), registered Practitioner Psychologist and Partner at the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist, and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Chris has published widely in the area of organizational psychology in sport, with projects relating to four areas: employee emotions and attitudes, stress and well-being, organizational behaviour, and high performance environments. He is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Applied Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Sciences. As a practitioner psychologist, his consultancy work spans a diverse range of clients including international, Olympic and Paralympic athletes, coaches and support staff, business executives, Government agencies, FTSE100 companies, senior military officers in the British Army, Navy and Air Force, emergency service personnel, politicians, and performing artists. He also works in an advisory capacity as a Registration Assessor for BASES and HCPC and provides supervision to probationary practitioners undertaking supervised experience (BASES) and Stage II supervised practice (BPS) qualifications.

Emily Weller has an MBA from Cardiff University, United Kingdom and is currently a Graduate Employee at Capita, UK.