Organizational climate and emotional intelligence: an appreciative inquiry into a "leaderful" community college

In an era of unprecedented challenges and such rapid change, community colleges need effective leadership that brings out the best in people, organizations, and communities. This qualitative study was based on interpretive research using Appreciative Inquiry (AI). Appreciative inquiry is a 4-D cycle: discovery, dream, design, and destiny. AI is action research that is a radically affirmative approach searching for the best in people and their organizations. It involves systematic discovery of what gives a system “life” when it is most effective. AI is based on social constructivist theory and is a collaborative and highly participative approach to inquiry. The participants engaged in appreciative interviews using provocative positive questions on the topic of emotional intelligence and organizational climate. Both appreciative inquiry and emotional intelligence are vii evolving constructs. By integrating the technique (appreciative inquiry) with the topic (emotional intelligence) the question of how emotionally intelligent leadership affects organizational climate was explored. This study addresses potentially useful questions about the characteristics of emotional intelligence and its possible implications for affecting organizational climate.