The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence, Job Satisfaction, and Job Performance: Empirical Evidence from Public Higher Education Institutions

One of the most significant concepts that have been introduced to management and psychology over the past ten years is emotional intelligence. This study sought to investigate the connection between emotional intelligence, job satisfaction, and job performance, in higher education settings. The academic staff of Ethiopian higher education institutions made up the population from which our sample was drawn. There was a total of 388 questionnaires given to participants who were chosen at random. The analysis was conducted using 315 questionnaires from these. Employees' emotional intelligence was found to be positively and significantly correlated with job satisfaction and performance, but the relationship between job satisfaction and job performance was found to be insignificant. In a similar vein, the connection between emotional intelligence and job performance at work is unmediated by job satisfaction. The findings highlight the significance of emotional intelligence and its influence on workplace situations. During the recruitment phase, service industries should strongly consider using an Emotional Intelligence test to assess an individual's capacity to control their emotions and recognize those of others, thereby increasing job satisfaction and performance.