'Senior business managers must have a high level of emotional intelligence to be effective.' Do you agree with this view? Justify your answer.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2017). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Senior managers manage significant resources, make important decisions, and galvanise staff to achieve organisational objectives.
2. [1] Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and manage one's own emotions and those of others, alongside intellectual intelligence (IQ), for better business performance.
3. [1] Goleman's emotional intelligence competencies include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and social skills.
4. [1] Managers with high EI are likely to possess self-confidence, realistic awareness of employee needs, better stress management, self-control, sensitivity, empathy, and emotionally stable behaviour, reflecting that 'soft skills' are crucial for effective management.
5. [1] The value of emotional intelligence is evident when considering the complex tasks and situations a senior business manager must navigate.
6. [1] Counter-argument: Some traditional managerial attributes like resoluteness and determination might be considered more important in certain short-term scenarios, where 'aggressive' managers could be perceived as effective by some, and not all employees prefer 'soft' managers.
7. [1] Credit answers that link EI with anti-Taylor views and support motivational theorists.