Abstract

The dynamic nature of business and organizational operations in the 21st century as being influenced by tough economic times, globalization and need for higher effectiveness is forcing leaders to adopt more relevant approaches to management. One such adaptation is the use of virtual teams for international organization that have globally distributed offices and functions. This study provides insights into the role of emotional intelligence and leadership skills necessary for ensuring individual success and team effectiveness in a virtual team within Save the Children. The research followed a descriptive design utilizing non-probability sampling and data collected using online questionnaire where both open ended and structured questions were used. The main themes being assessed were manifestation of emotional intelligence in a virtual team and the relevance of transformational leadership skills in leading such teams. The study reveals significant presence of skills associated with emotional intelligence like self-awareness, empathy and social intelligence. There is also evidence that the individual members of the team under study have common expectations on the leadership skills required for successful management of a virtual team.

Key words: Emotional intelligence, leadership, virtual teams, globalization.