Emotional Intelligence and Attitude towards Work of Teachers: A Performance Improvement Model

Educational sector has metamorphosed to equip with the required challenges and changes. Quality of teachers is the most important criterion for success of the educational sector. In the educational process the crucial driver is teacher-student association. Teacher as a role model plays an important role in shaping a student's personality. Emotional intelligence (EI) has evolved as a remarkable component to build a congenial atmosphere in educational institutions, especially in high schools, colleges (affiliated and autonomous), universities and the society at large. EI can be defined as the ability to monitor one's own as well as other's emotions and feelings and to utilize the same information to direct one's thinking and actions. EI is a union of emotions and intelligence. Both the abilities work simultaneously creating a huge impact on both personal and professional lives. EI makes a meaningful contribution for better understanding of people and the effective utilization of their potential for their overall growth and success. The present paper tries to identify the various factors that are associated with the traits of EI of teachers in the higher education field, and find out the factors that influence the attitude towards their work. With the resulting output, it is aimed to evolve a model to facilitate improving the performance of the teachers in their work situation. The study uses valid statistical tools including factor analysis and regression method to analyse the data. The findings of the research paper indicate that EI of the teacher is significantly related to the teacher's positive attitude towards work. In order to raise the level of the teachers' work involvement it could be possible to enable them to improve their level of EI and be more confident and successful both personally and professionally. The study is considered to aid the teachers and organizations in enhancing their performance, through organising various programmes for personal development and EI.