EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND CAREER ADAPTABILITY OF ACADEMIC STAFF IN KENYA: CASE OF SELECTED UNIVERSITIES IN NAIROBI COUNTY

Abstract

The academic staff in a university is a vital component in enhancement of academic affairs in any university. Due to the unending changes and dynamics that increase pressure and work-related stress that academic staffs are subjected to, they are required to develop high levels of career adaptability so that they remain relevant. The main objective of the study was to establish the relationship between the emotional intelligence and career adaptability of academic staff in Kenya: Case of selected universities in Nairobi County. The specific objectives of the study included: To assess the relationship between self - awareness and career adaptability of the academic staff in Kenya: Case of selected universities in Nairobi County; To determine the influence of self - regulation on career adaptability of the academic staff in Kenya: Case of selected universities in Nairobi County; To examine ways in which motivation enhances career adaptability of the academic staff in Kenya: Case of selected universities in Nairobi County; To establish role of social skills in enhancing career adaptability of the academic staff in Kenya: Case of selected universities in Nairobi County and to identify strategies used to enhance career adaptability of the academic staff in Kenya: Case of selected universities in Nairobi County. The study was based on emotional intelligence theory by Goleman (1995) and Career construction theory by Savickas (1997). A mixed approach was used (Explanatory sequential design) to provide roadmap for the research. The target population was 403 academic staffs from 3 randomly selected universities in Nairobi County, Kenya. The total sample size used was 201 respondents. The first phase utilized a two-stage cluster sampling while criterion sampling was used for the second phase. Phase one data was collected using Emotional Intelligence Scale, (Cronbach’s alpha, α = 0.824) and the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale Short Form developed (Cronbach’s alpha, α = 0.812). Questionnaires for academic staff were used in phase one and interview guides were employed for the second phase for academic staff participants. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to analyze quantitative data. Content analysis (thematic analysis) was used to analyze qualitative data. The main findings of the research showed that there was a weak significant positive relationship between the four constructs of emotional intelligence and career adaptability constructs. Furthermore, overall emotional intelligence had a moderate positive correlation with career adaptability, (p˂ 0.05, r = .490). The major recommendation therefore given by the research was enhancement of emotional intelligence through trainings, guidance and counselling and team building in order to improve job adaptability of workers.