The Emotionally Intelligent Guru: Unpacking the Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Organizational Citizenship Behavior in Indian Schools

In the rapidly evolving landscape of Indian education, teachers are increasingly required to perform beyond their formal job descriptions—a phenomenon known as Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB). However, the psychological mechanisms that sustain these discretionary behaviors remain under-explored in the Indian context. This conceptual paper posits that Emotional Intelligence (EI) acts as a critical antecedent to OCB among Indian teachers. By synthesizing Goleman’s EI framework with Organ’s OCB dimensions, we propose a theoretical model where teacher self-efficacy mediates the relationship between EI and OCB. The paper highlights the unique cultural expectations of the “Guru” in India, arguing that high EI enables teachers to navigate the emotional labor of their roles, thereby fostering a culture of altruism and civic virtue. Implications for school administration and policy are discussed.