Relationship between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial behavior

  Abstract   Aims: In large organizations, supporting entrepreneurial behavior at all hierarchal levels for growth and increasing competitive advantages, is necessary. The aim of this research was to study of relationship between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial behavior in a medical sciences university.   Methods: This study is a descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted in the second half of 2011 in a medical sciences university. Sampling included 96 people. Standard questionnaire of Wong & Law has used for gathering data regarding emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial behavior. Samples selected randomly and used spearman correlation and Mann-Whitney tests to examine statistical significance by SPSS 17.   Results: Findings showed that there is a significant relation between all dimensions of emotional intelligence including self-emotional appraisal, others' emotional appraisal, and regulation of emotion and use of emotion and entrepreneurial behavior (p < 0.01). Analyses demonstrated that other’s emotional appraisal, regulation of emotion and also uses of emotion have high effects on entrepreneurial behavior. Furthermore findings indicated that there is no significant difference among men and women (p>0.05). Conclusion: Nowadays, entrepreneurial behavior in organizations can't be ignored. Employees that have high level of emotional intelligence can control their feelings. Therefore they can experience better behavior in the workplace that enables them to act entrepreneurial.