Paper Title
Locus of Control, Emotional Intelligence, and Individual Performance of School Teachers; Exploring Predictive and Mediating Effects

Abstract
This study examined the interrelations between Locus of Control (LOC), Emotional Intelligence (EI), and Individual Work Performance (IWP) in the workplace, with a focus on direct and indirect effects. Findings indicated a significant inverse relationship between LOC and EI, suggesting that individuals with an external LOC tend to exhibit lower EI. Emotional Intelligence, in turn, showed a positive association with IWP, highlighting its predictive role in enhancing workplace performance. However, no direct relationship was observed between LOC and IWP, emphasizing the limited direct influence of LOC on performance outcomes. A multiple regression analysis revealed that EI significantly predicted IWP, further supporting its critical role in workplace dynamics. Mediation analysis underscored the significance of EI as a mediator in the relationship between LOC and IWP, accounting for a substantial proportion of the effect, while the direct impact of LOC on IWP remained negligible. This study highlights the importance of fostering EI to enhance work performance, while also suggesting limited direct benefits from interventions targeting LOC. Challenges such as non-normal data distribution and potential response biases due to self-reported measures were identified, calling for methodological refinements in future research. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of psychological factors in workplace performance, advocating for nuanced interventions to optimize both performance and employee well-being. Future studies could explore additional mediators or moderators and adopt longitudinal designs to better establish causality and generalizability across diverse workplace contexts. Keywords - Locus of Control, Emotional Intelligence, Individual Work Performance, workplace dynamics, mediation analysis, psychological factors, employee performance.