Impact of emotional intelligence on innovative work behavior: testing the mediating role of happiness at work among faculty members in higher education

Purpose This study aims to explore the impact of emotional intelligence on innovative work behavior and the mediating role of happiness at work among faculty members of higher education. Design/methodology/approach Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data among the faculty members working in the public and private universities of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab in India. Systematic random sampling was used to retrieve 319 valid responses. The data was interpreted using partial least squares structural equation modelling to test the hypotheses. Findings Findings suggest that emotional intelligence has a positive and statistically significant impact on innovative work behavior. Moreover, emotional intelligence is a positive predictor of happiness at work and thus a predictor of innovative work behavior. The mediation analysis also reveals that the relationship between emotional intelligence and innovative work behavior is mediated in part by happiness at work, thus highlighting the importance of affective mechanisms in developing innovation in an academic setting. Practical implications The results indicate that university administrators ought to invest in emotional intelligence growth, supportive leadership actions and well-being-oriented human resource policy to improve faculty happiness and creativity. Emotional and psychological resource strengthening can be seen to enhance long-term innovative behavior in institutions of higher learning. Originality/value The study provides new empirical data in terms of incorporating emotional intelligence and happiness at work in one theory to explain innovative work behavior in higher education. It also transfers affective and motivational views on innovation by offering context-specific evidence within Indian universities.