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Relational conflict is not too bad for employees when they have developed their emotional intelligence skills

Benítez González, Miriam,Serrano-Ortega, Juan Antonio

Abstract

Team conflict constitutes one of the most prevalent team processes in the workplace (Benítez et al., 2011; De Dreu, 2010), especially in competitive organizational contexts, such as, university organizations (Matthiesen & Einarsen, 2007). De Wit, Greer, & Jehn (2012) 's methanalysis showed that, team conflict is not always negative for employees well-being. Its effects are depending on the conflict type and conflict contexts. In this sense, research has shown that, task conflict could be positive for job satisfaction and, relationship conflict consequences of well-being could be buffer when team members have good skills to solve conflicts (De Dreu et al., 2004; Seong & Choi, 2014). Emotional intelligence has come to be seen as a key concept for the development of organizations. Especially in professions that require continuous management of interpersonal relationships, such as, teachers (Extremera & Fernández-Berrocal, 2004, Jiménez & López-Zafra, 2007). When individuals are in a conflict situation, whatever the type, they face the same ones influenced by their emotional state (Barry & Fulmer, 2004; Montes 2014). Therefore, employees with high emotional intelligence may be better able to cope with conflict-induced stress than people who do not have such a skill (Armstrong et al., 2011). However, despite the existence of empirical evidence on the influence of emotional intelligence on the adequate management of conflict, there are few studies that have analyzed the moderating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between both types of conflict (task and relationship conflict) and burnout. This study extends the conflict literature by examining the moderating role of emotional intelligent on the relationship between two conflict types (task conflict and relationship conflict) and burnout core (emotional exhaustion and depersonalization).

Full text

Rela ional con lic is no oo bad o employees when hey ha e de eloped hei emo ional in elligence skills Mi iam Beni ez y Juan A. Se ano-O ega Malaga Uni e si y Team con lic cons i u es one o he mos p e alen eam p ocesses in he wo kplace (Bení ez e al., 2011; De D eu, 2010), especially in compe i i e o ganiza ional con ex s, such as, uni e si y o ganiza ions (Ma hiesen & Eina sen, 2007). De Wi , G ee , & Jehn (2012) 's me hanalysis showed ha , eam con lic is no always nega i e o employees well-being. I s e ec s a e depending on he con lic ype and con lic con ex s. In his sense, esea ch has shown ha , ask con lic could be posi i e o job sa is ac ion and, ela ionship con lic consequences o well-being could be bu e when eam membe s ha e good skills o sol e con lic s (De D eu e al., 2004; Seong & Choi, 2014). Emo ional in elligence has come o be seen as akey concep o he de elopmen o o ganiza ions. Especially in p o essions ha equi e con inuous managemen o in e pe sonal ela ionships, such as, eache s (Ex eme a & Fe nández-Be ocal, 2004, Jiménez & López-Za a, 2007). When indi iduals a e in a con lic si ua ion, wha e e he ype, hey ace he same ones in luenced by hei emo ional s a e (Ba y & Fulme , 2004; Mon es 2014). The e o e, employees wi h high emo ional in elligence may be be e able o cope wi h con lic -induced s ess han people who do no ha e such a skill (A ms ong e al., 2011). Howe e , despi e he exis ence o empi ical e idence on he in luence o emo ional in elligence on he adequa e managemen o con lic , he e a e ew s udies ha ha e analyzed he mode a ing ole o emo ional in elligence in he ela ionship be ween bo h ypes o con lic ( ask and ela ionship con lic ) and bu nou . This s udy ex ends he con lic li e a u e by examining he mode a ing ole o emo ional in elligen on he ela ionship be ween wo con lic ypes ( ask con lic and ela ionship con lic ) and bu nou co e (emo ional exhaus ion and depe sonaliza ion). Hypo hesis 1 (H1): Task con lic will be less posi i ely ela ed o bu nou han ela ionship con lic . Hypo hesis 2 (H2): Emo ional In elligence will modula e he ela ionship be ween ask con lic and bu nou (emo ional exhaus ion and depe sonaliza ion). Thus, ask con lic will be posi i ely ela ed o bo h dimensions o bu nou , only when employees ha e low le els o emo ional in elligence. Hypo hesis 3 (H3): Emo ional In elligence will modula e he ela ionship be ween ela ionship con lic and bu nou (emo ional exhaus ion and depe sonaliza ion) bu e ing his posi i e link. Pa icipan s: 171 uni e si y employees. Teache s and esea che s (76.6%), Concie ge S a (11.7%) and Lib a y (11.7%). Mean age o 46.76 (SD 9.3) and a mean enu e o 51.07 mon hs (SD 267.22). Being 50.9% women and he es men. Ques ionnai es: CIT (Bení ez e al., 2012) o measu e ask con lic (α = .76)and ela ionship con lic (α= .86). TMMS-24 (Fe nández-Be ocal e al, 2004) o measu e emo ional in elligence. Emo ional a en ion dimension (α= .89), emo ional cla i y dimension (α= .89)and α= .88 o he emo ional epai dimension. Spanish e sion o MBI (Mañas e al., 1998) o measu e bu nou . α= .88 o depe sonaliza ion and α = .85 o emo ional exhaus ion. Rega ding he ole o in ag oup con lic , esul s e ealed ha no only con lic abou pe sonal issues o ela ionship con lic is posi i ely associa ed o bu nou , also ask con lic . So, i con lic is no managed in eams, i can ha e de imen al consequences o o ganiza ional, indi idual and g oup ou comes (Ayoko, Ha el, & Cullen, 2002; De D eu & Van Vianen, 2001). Al hough companies s i e o in oduce con lic esolu ion p og ams in o hei employees (Polkingho n e al., 2006), oday, emo ional managemen aining s ill has majo limi a ions (Ka z, Sosa & Ha io , 2016). Howe e , his s udy shows ha in o de o bu e he nega i e e ec s o ask and ela ionship con lic aining employees on he emo ional in elligen skill is necessa y in se ice o ganiza ion (e.g., uni e si ies) In oduc ion Aim and Hipo heses Me hod Table 2. Hie a chical Reg ession Analysis Examining he mode a ing ole o Emo ional In elligence on he ela ionship be ween bo h con lic ypes and Emo ional Exhaus ion Conclusions Table 3. Hie a chical Reg ession Analysis Examining he mode a ing ole o Emo ional In elligence on he ela ionship be ween bo h con lic ypes and depe sonalisa ion. The main esul s showed ha : (a) ask con lic is posi i ely ela ed o emo ional exhaus ion and depe sonaliza ion, bu his link is less high han ela ionship con lic link (ß= .20;p<.05,ß= .40, p<.01 o emo ional exhaus ion) and (ß= .17,p<.05 ß= .26,p<.01 o depe sonaliza ion) espec i ely; (b) emo ional a en ion plays a posi i e and mode a ing ole, jus o he link be ween ela ionship con lic and emo ional exhaus ion (ß= .13,p<.05); (c) emo ional cla i y plays a nega i e and mode a ing ole be ween ela ionship con lic and bo h bu nou dimensions (ß= -.13,p<.05 o emo ional exhaus ion; ß= .19,p<.01 o depe sonaliza ion), and a posi i e mode a ing ole be ween ask con lic and despe sonaliza ion (ß= .18,p<.05). * p < .05 wo- ailed, ** p <. 01 wo- ailed. Resul s * p < .05 wo- ailed, ** p <. 01 wo- ailed. * p < .05 wo- ailed, ** p <. 01 wo- ailed.