The Influence of Emotional Intelligence on Workplace Relationships and Performance

Abstract

In contemporary organizational environments, emotional intelligence (EI) has emerged as a critical psychological resource influencing employees’ interpersonal effectiveness and job performance. The present study aimed to explore the influence of emotional intelligence on workplace relationships and perceived job performance among working professionals. Adopting a qualitative descriptive research design, the study collected data from five employees representing diverse sectors—defence, education, medical, banking, and corporate—located in Bangalore, Karnataka. Participants were selected using purposive sampling, and data were gathered through a researcher-developed semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis was employed to examine participants’ verbatim responses. Five major themes emerged: emotional self-awareness in workplace interactions, personal emotion regulation strategies, empathy and interpersonal sensitivity, emotional regulation in conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence as a driver of performance and resilience. The findings indicate that employees who demonstrate higher emotional awareness and regulation tend to maintain healthier workplace relationships, manage conflicts more constructively, and sustain productivity under pressure. However, organizational stressors and hierarchical dynamics were found to influence the extent to which emotional intelligence could be effectively applied. The study highlights the practical importance of integrating emotional intelligence development into organizational training, leadership practices, and employee well-being initiatives. Despite limitations related to small sample size and qualitative scope, the research contributes context-rich insights into how emotional intelligence operates in real workplace settings. Future research may adopt larger and mixed-method approaches to further validate and extend these findings.