The Impact of Managers' Emotional Intelligence on Employees' Creativity: The Mediating Role of Empowering Leadership

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Sina Amir Nejad 1
Alireza Chaloei Ashrafi 2
Sogand Barimani 3
1 Master's Degree, Business Management (Strategic Management Orientation), Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.
2 Master's Degree, Business Administration (Marketing Orientation), Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran
3 Master's Degree, Business Administration (Marketing Orientation), Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran
10.22034/jmek.2025.525028.1178
Abstract
This article investigates the impact of managers’ emotional intelligence on employees’ creativity through the mediating variable of empowering leadership in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in Mazandaran Province. The research is applied and descriptive-analytical in nature, with data collected via standardized questionnaires and analyzed using SmartPLS4 and SPSS software. The sample size consisted of 378 employees from SMEs in Mazandaran Province. Results indicate that empowering leadership has a direct positive and significant effect on employee creativity. Moreover, emotional intelligence influences employees' creativity both directly and indirectly through empowering leadership. Findings also reveal that emotional intelligence plays a mediating role in the relationship between empowering leadership and employees’ creativity. This paper provides important insights and lays the foundation for developing organizational models and patterns tailored to small and medium business environments. Furthermore, it offers practical recommendations for managers and decision-makers aiming to enhance employee creativity.

Keywords

Subjects

Management, Economics and Entrepreneurship Studies
Volume 6, Issue 3
Autumn 2025

  • Receive Date 20 May 2025
  • Revise Date 29 July 2025
  • Accept Date 24 August 2025