The role of self-efficacy and cognitive flexibility in the effect of the emotional intelligence of executives on decision-making styles

This study has been conducted to reveal the role of self-efficacy and cognitive flexibility in the effect of the emotional intelligence of executives on decision-making styles. Survey method has been used in this research by gathering data from 545 executives who work in different sectors. According to the results achieved, there is a positive significant relationship between emotional intelligence, decision-making styles, cognitive flexibility, and self-efficacy. Within this line, it has been shown that the most significant relationship occurs between cognitive flexibility and decision-making styles. Another result of the research suggests that cognitive flexibility has a moderating and self-efficacy has a partial mediating role in the effect of emotional intelligence on decision-making styles. It is shown that higher cognitive flexibility leads to higher degrees of effect of the emotional intelligence on decision-making styles whereas lower cognitive flexibility leads to lower degrees of effect of the emotional intelligence on decision-making. The model designed within the framework of this research is unique to this study and has been developed for the first time for this study. Although intervariable relationships constitute a theoretical base in literature, it is believed that the findings gathered within this scope will contribute to further enlighten and fill the theoretical gap encountered while handling the variables of emotional intelligence and decision-making styles with variables of cognitive flexibility and self-efficacy and provide assistance for executives and employees.