Final answer:
The statement that emotional intelligence is unimportant for leader and manager success is false; in fact, emotional intelligence is widely recognized as a crucial factor that can be a better predictor of success than IQ in some cases. The statement is false.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that emotional intelligence has been identified as a moderately unimportant factor in accounting for success in leaders and managers is false.
Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage one's own emotions, as well as the emotions of others, which includes skills such as empathy, social awareness, and relationship management.
Howard Gardner's inter- and intrapersonal intelligences, which can be aligned with the concept of emotional intelligence, highlight its importance in understanding social relationships and cues.
Research, including the work by Daniel Goleman, has shown that emotional intelligence can be a significant predictor of success, sometimes even more so than traditional measures of intelligence like IQ.
Emotional intelligence is essential for leaders as it helps them navigate the complex world of human interaction and can lead to better performance and lower turnover rates.
The debate around emotional intelligence, such as the critique by Locke in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, showcases that while it is still a subject of academic discussion, its relevance in leadership and success is well-established by many researchers.