Shahram Alam
The study aimed to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and transformational leadership in the sports managers of Alborz province, Iran. The method of the study was correlational. The research population consisted of 101 sports managers in Alborz province in 2012. Since the population size was limited, all members of the population were considered as the sample. The data was collected using Cyberia-Shrink Emotional Intelligence test (CSEI) (1999; Moradi, 2005) and Bass’s Multifactor Leadership questionnaire (1985). The reliability of the scales was calculated to be 82% and 73% for CSEI and Multifactor Leadership questionnaire, respectively, using Cronbach’s alpha formula. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software. The data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics including mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum scores, Pearson correlation formula, independent t test and multiple regression analysis. The results revealed significant positive correlations, both simple and multiple, between emotional intelligence and transformational leadership style in the sports managers in Alborz province. From among the components of emotional intelligence, motivation had a greater role in predicting transformational leadership in the sports managers of Alborz province. Since emotional intelligence and its components are learnable, it is recommended that emotional intelligence be included in the educational planning of sports managers.