Date of Award

Spring 4-21-2020

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Organizational Leadership

First Advisor

Dr. Phil Pendley

Second Advisor

Walt Buster

Third Advisor

Jonathan Greenberg

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative case study is to understand the similarities that exist in the descriptions of emotional intelligence methods utilized by retired successful Major League Baseball closers to appraise, express, regulate, and utilize their emotions to perform successfully in high pressure situations.

Methodology: The dissertation was a qualitative case study. Twelve of the top 50 retired save leaders in Major League Baseball were interviewed to understand the similarities in the descriptions of emotional intelligence methods used to perform successfully in high pressure situations. This study attempted to understand what exactly elite closers did to utilize emotional intelligence to perform in high pressure situations.

Findings: A total of eight common themes emerged from this study. At least two-thirds of all closers interviewed identified that laser focus on the moment and a short-term memory for emotional regulation, adrenaline utilization of emotions, reflection to appraise emotions, remaining even keeled for emotional regulation, preparation for emotional control, playing for teammates for utilization of emotions, breath for emotional control, and celebration for emotional expression as emotional intelligence methods utilized to perform successfully in high pressure situations.

Recommendations: High pressure performers must develop routines that include the eight primary strategies used by the elite closers. Though each individual will address the eight routines differently, it is important for those who desire high performance in HPS to develop and maintain these strategies.

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