THE UNTOLD STORY: IS THE ENTREPRENEUR OF THE 21ST CENTURY DEFINED BY EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?

Abstract

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) has been identified as a crucial predictor for workplace success. Entrepreneurs are those that shine and excel in the workplace beyond the norm. The present study aimed to provide a preliminary insight into this area of entrepreneurship research. Through the use of qualitative methods, several Australian entrepreneurs were examined in relation to their Emotional Intelligence ability. EQ was examined via in‐depth structured interviews. It was predicted that the entrepreneurs would significantly exhibit these ratios and hence an EQ level beyond the norm. Not only did the study yield such a result, it also showed that the entrepreneurs exhibited high levels of all the sub‐scales in each model. The outstanding performance of each entrepreneur in Emotional Intelligence ability, as well as all the sub‐scales, strongly supports the concept that EQ may be the missing factor that researchers have been searching for in entrepreneurship studies.