Strengthening Emotional Intelligence and Work Discipline to Improve Principal Performance in Indonesia

Abstract

Personal competence is the basis for efforts to improve the quality of education management for principals. This research aims to determine the strength of the emotional intelligence and work discipline variables that were considered to affect the principal performance in Indonesia. The research design was path analysis followed by the SITOREM method. The research sample consisted of 198 certified private junior high school principals. The sampling technique employed was Multistage Random Sampling. The research instrument was a questionnaire that had been tested for validity and reliability. This quantitative research data analysis technique consisted of descriptive statistical analysis, data analysis requirements testing, inferential statistical analysis, regression analysis, and hypothesis testing. The research results obtained that: (1) the hypothesis of Emotional Intelligence (X₁) on principal performance (Y) resulted in a path coefficient of 0.125, which implied that a conclusion had a direct positive effect; (2) the work discipline hypothesis (X₂) on principal performance (Y) obtained a path coefficient of 0.271, which implied a conclusion had a positive direct effect; (3) there was an indirect effect of emotional intelligence and work discipline on principal performance with a path coefficient of 0.046 < 0.125. The research conclusion reported that emotional intelligence and work discipline positively affected junior high school principals’ performance.