ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Emotional intelligence can help managers to effectively deal with conflicts in the workplace. However, the correlation between conflict management styles and emotional intelligence has not been fully conceptualized. AIM: To examine the impact of demographic variables and emotional intelligence on conflict management styles among nurse managers from Jordan. METHOD: A descriptive correlational design was used. A sample of 248 nurse managers completed the study. RESULTS: The integrating style was the most commonly used style among Jordanian nursing managers, while the least frequently used style was the dominating style. Conflict management styles significantly differed according to hospital type and years of experience. There were significant relationships between emotional intelligence and conflict management styles, but the direction of this relationship is not fully consistent with previous literature. CONCLUSION: Educating nursing managers about emotional intelligence may improve their abilities to manage conflicts in the workplace. However, cultural factors might have a role in determining the conflict management style used by managers. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: An analysis of the relationship between emotional intelligence and conflict management styles can assist management in initiating a tailor-training program to improve abilities to manage conflict.
