In an era of unprecedented challenges and rapid change, community colleges need effective leadership that brings out the best in people, organizations, and communities. This qualitative study was based on interpretive research using appreciative inquiry (AI). AI is based on social constructivist theory and is a collaborative and highly participative approach to inquiry. AI is action research that is a radically affirmative approach searching for the best in people and their organizations. It involves systematic discovery of what gives a system life when it is most effective. In this study the participants engaged in appreciative interviews using provocative positive questions on the topic of emotional intelligence and organizational climate. Both emotional intelligence (EI) and appreciative inquiry are evolving constructs. By integrating the technique (appreciative inquiry) with the topic (emotional intelligence), the question of how emotionally-intelligent leadership affects organizational climate was explored. This study addresses potentially useful questions about the characteristics of emotional intelligence and its possible implications for affecting organizational climate.