In the realm of educational leadership little attention has been given to emotional intelligence. This phenomenological narrative study was designed to explore the lived experiences of school principals with respect to their perceptions of the influence of emotional intelligence on their leadership. Research indicates that principals have an effect on student achievement and that emotional intelligence effects leadership performance in the business sector. Additionally, recent research suggests that the presence or absence of emotional intelligence competencies and the ability to manage them is what distinguishes effective leaders from ineffective ones. This qualitative phenomenological research study used narrative inquiry to investigate the life experiences of eight secondary school principals who scored high on an emotional intelligence appraisal survey. The eight principals that participated acknowledged and emphasized that emotional intelligence was an important aspect of their leadership and decision making processes. Recurring story elements included self- awareness, self confidence, empathy, intuition, professional and life experiences, as well as successful leadership. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]