Abstract

The present study examines the strategies employed by female principals in the education sector of District Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, to enhance emotional Intelligence (EI) and work-life balance (WLB). With more women joining the workforce and becoming economically independent due to technological advancements, this research offers crucial insights for female leaders. The research explores the relationship between EI and WLB, focusing on the principals' strategies to create a harmonious balance between professional and personal life. The study used a quantitative methodology to gather data from private and public sector principals in the Charsadda district since the sample was too large to cover with other methods. A total of 159 samples were selected using the correction factor formula. The Self-Report Measure of Emotional Intelligence (SRMEI) by Alam and Kamal (2008) and the Work-Life Balance scale by Khurram and Ibrahim (2014) were employed for data collection, as these tools have proven their reliability in various international studies. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 23), employing SEM technique with regression, correlation and factor analysis only to identify the most significant EI factors influencing WLB. The results revealed that the EI strategies with the strongest association with WLB include meeting people's expectations, exercising self-control, understanding oneself, avoiding negative biases, maintaining focus, discouraging pessimistic viewpoints, and ignoring trivial matters. In turn, WLB strategies positively correlated with EI factors include improving training, moderately participating in family and other activities, managing elder care wisely, and creating personalized work-life balance programs. The findings of this study hold significant implications, not only for female principals in the local area but also for other sectors where women serve in key leadership positions.