Title:
Organizational Culture as a Moderator Between Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Styles in Nigerian Deposit Money Banks

Authors:
MBONU Henrietta Ukachi, BELLO Sunday Ade & EMEJE Simon, Nigeria

Abstract:

This study examined the influence of emotional intelligence (EI) on leadership styles and the moderating role of organizational culture in Nigerian deposit money banks. Employing a mixed-methods design, quantitative data were collected from bank managers using standardized EI and leadership instruments, while qualitative insights were gathered through semi-structured interviews. Regression analyses revealed that EI significantly predicts transformational and transactional leadership positively, and laissez-faire leadership negatively. Moderation analysis indicated that organizational culture shapes how EI translates into effective leadership, with hierarchical, compliance-driven, and market-oriented cultures constraining transformational behaviours. Qualitative findings further highlighted structural pressures, stressors, and coping mechanisms that influence leaders’ application of EI. The study concludes that improving leadership effectiveness requires both developing individual EI competencies and cultivating organizational cultures that support participatory, empathetic, and transformational leadership. Recommendations include integrating EI into recruitment, training, performance appraisal, and culture-aligned leadership development programmes. These findings contribute to understanding the interplay between EI, leadership, and culture in high-pressure banking environments, providing evidence-based guidance for enhancing managerial effectiveness and organizational performance in Nigerian financial institutions.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51505/IJEBMR.2026.10318