We are often asked if EQ is used in the police force and what impact it may have. Common sense tells you that Emotional Intelligence should be a key success factor of a policeman. Being calm, empathic and thoughtful in provocative situations or to be assertive and quickly make decisions on how to act in vulnerable and stressful situations have to be a challenge.
This study is a quantitative comparison and correlation study using regression analysis for behavioral research to determine if an Emotional Intelligence assessment instrument can identify the Emotional Intelligence competencies possessed by law enforcement leaders.
The study begins the process of a systematic and focused approach to identify specific emotional intelligence competencies distinctive of exemplary law enforcement leaders and add empirical understanding of the leadership characteristics of law enforcement leaders.
The BarOn EQ-i on-line self-report instrument providing a Total EQ score, five composite scales and fifteen sub-scales was used to determine the Emotional Intelligence scores of four hundred fifteen law enforcement leaders.
Differences between the Emotional Intelligence scores of law enforcement leaders and the general public norm, as well as, the scores of FBI National Academy graduates and scores of non-National Academy law enforcement leaders were compared.
Twenty of the twenty-one Emotional Intelligence categories showed statistically significant differences between the Emotional Intelligence scores of law enforcement leaders and the general public.
Twelve of the twenty-one Emotional Intelligence categories showed a positive statistically significant difference between the Emotional Intelligence scores of FBI National Academy graduates and the Emotional Intelligence scores of other law enforcement leaders.
The study found the composite scale of General Mood EQ and a cluster of emotional intelligence sub-scale competencies, consisting of:
- Social responsibility,
- Problem Solving,
- Self-Actualization, and
- Interpersonal Relationship as significant predictors identifying Emotional Intelligence competencies differentiating FBI National Academy graduates from other law enforcement leaders.
The implications of the present research are that emotional intelligence competencies can be used as a benchmark for succession planning in the development of future law enforcement leaders. The present research demonstrates the need for law enforcement officers to demonstrate essential Emotional Intelligence competencies to allow them to become the very best leaders possible in a dangerous, difficult, and stressful occupation.
University of Hong Kong. EQ Edge Steven Stein 2011