Author(s): Leena, Raminder Pal Singh, Kiranjeet Kaur
Purpose- A committed workforce, productivity, performance, and retention are key goals for organizations, including higher education, and are better achieved when employees experience high life satisfaction that enhances engagement and motivation. Therefore, understanding the factors contributing to life satisfaction is essential. This study investigates emotional intelligence, self-efficacy, and work-life balance as predictors of life satisfaction and distinguishes between high and low satisfaction levels among faculty in Indian higher education institutions. Design/methodology/approach- The standardised questionnaires have been used to measure life satisfaction and its predictors, i.e., emotional intelligence (EI), work-life balance (WLB), and self-efficacy (SE). Data have been collected from 1000 faculty of the top 200 NIRF-ranked higher education institutes of India. To achieve the objective, the method of discriminant analysis has been adopted. Findings-The results revealed that emotional intelligence is the most significant predictor of life satisfaction followed by self-efficacy and work-life balance. Practical Implications- Understanding the impact of emotional intelligence, self-efficacy, and work-life balance can help employees develop skills that enhance their life satisfaction and job performance. Consequently, institutions can formulate targeted strategies and tailored programs aimed at enhancing faculty retention, productivity, commitment and overall well-being. Originality/value- This study on predictors of life satisfaction among faculty in higher education offers valuable insights for both employees and institutions. It empowers employees to improve their personal and professional fulfilment that enhance their well-being. It is also provide foundation to the institutions to develop strategies and create supportive environments that boost morale, productivity, and retention, leading to greater institutional success.