Leadership and Communication Skills towards Emotional Intelligence: A Case of a Malaysian Private University

To identify an association between leadership skills and communication skills towards level of emotional intelligence among accounting students in a Malaysian private university. Questionnaire surveys were conducted to third and fourth year accounting students. Instruments for leadership skills, communication skills and emotional intelligence are measured based on previous studies using five points Likert scale. The accounting students has acceptable level of leadership, communication skills and emotional intelligence. Leadership and communication skills are significantly positively related to emotional intelligence, signifying that students with better leadership and communication skills has a greater level of emotional intelligence. The results could not be generalized to all accounting students in Malaysia, as it only covers third and fourth year accounting students in a private university. Perhaps, with larger sample size in future, more parametric tests can be performed and the results would be more attractive. Further steps can be taken by universities, professional bodies or organizations to inculcate the leadership and communication skills which may cultivate students' emotional intelligence as they are the future accountants.