The Relationship between Servant Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Burnout, and the Intent to Quit in Education Professionals

Abstract

This quantitative study examined the relationship between servant leadership and emotional intelligence, the impact of the relationship on burnout and the intent to quit in early childhood through 12th-grade education professionals, and the employment classification of EC-12 education professional as a differentiating factor for emotional intelligence, servant leadership, burnout, and the intent to quit. The study found a positive correlation between emotional intelligence and servant leadership. Emotional intelligence has a strong negative correlation with burnout, and a weak negative correlation with the intent to quit. Burnout and the intent to quit have a strong positive correlation. Emotional intelligence is a protective factor against burnout and the intent to quit but provides stronger protection against burnout. Servant leadership is a protective factor against burnout and intent to quit. The employment classification of EC-12 education professional is a differentiating factor on emotional intelligence, servant leadership, burnout, and the intent to quit. The findings improve theoretical understanding of the link between emotional intelligence and servant leadership, highlight the link’s practical importance in developing effective servant leadership, and the link’s role as a protective factor against burnout and the intent to quit. The findings can be used to evaluate talent development programs in education.