EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES AND CAREER ANCHORS AS DETERMINANTS OF OVERSEAS ADJUSTMENT : ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE CASE

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of emotional intelligence and career anchors as a factor in overseas assignments. Using data from 269 expat directors, all over
the world in « Alliance Française », a quantitative
methodology led us to three main results: First of all,
dimensions of emotional intelligence such as « regulation of emotions » and « utilization of emotions in
solving problems » positively influence overseas
adjustment. Then, emotional skills and career motivations, measured by the concept of « career anchors »
(Schein, 1996) are positively correlated and set a
frame of individual characteristics. Finally, this set
positively explains the multidimensional aspect of
overseas adjustment. The conceptual and empirical
contributions of this study, as well as the managerial
implications, are discussed.