EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS PART OF THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT STYLE IN THE PRE HIGH EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN ALBANIA
In today's modern world, emotional intelligence (EI) has a strong connection in the work environment and it is considered to be one of the key factors in the well functioning of institutions, especially of educational ones. The main aim of this study is to identify, whether the directors of the schools of the pre high educational system in Albania are aware of the concept of emotional intelligence, are trained and if they implement it in their leading style, in order to achieve an overall success in schools. The study also aims to identify the differences between new and senior principals in using EI. The research methodology is quantitative, 183 questionnaires were filled in by teachers in 11 different schools of the pre high educational institutions in Tirana. The instrument used consists of 40 standard statements that cover all five characteristics of the emotional intelligence: selfawareness, self control, motivation, empathy and social skills, by analyzing the level of agreement in a 1 5 Likert scale. The study has shown that principals and teachers of the pre high educational system in Albania have no knowledge on emotional intelligence and as a result they do not implement it. The principals do possess some elements of emotional intelligence as a part of their soft skills, but they are not aware of them and do not use them in increasing the teachers' work satisfaction. Also, there is no difference in the usage of emotional intelligence between young and senior principals, apart from the fact that the seniors have better developed soft skills. This would help them to come closer to the characteristics of emotional intelligence. The results of the study imply some recommendations for policy makers, school's principals and mentor teachers in increasing the use of emotional intelligence in the pre high educational system in Albania. The results confirm the necessity to train the principals about the latest news in the field of education, ethics, communication and leadership with a focus on raising leadership within the focus of Emotional Intelligence. The ministry of Education, Sport and Youth should design policies for the professional development of leaders and teachers in accordance with new management strategies such as emotional intelligence. UDC classification number: 37.07:005.33, DOI: https:/doi.org/10.12955/pss.v1.58