The role of Emotional Intelligence in Project Management

Abstract

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the capability to understand and manage not only your own emotions but also those of the people around you. Further, emotions can be used as a source of energy, motivation, connection and influence and for this reason EI plays a crucial role in Project Management (PM), and more specifically for Project managers. Nowadays, EI is a topic of concern for many project managers. More companies are looking for better soft skills in their project managers. With the existing competitive global business environment, projects in organizations consist of cross-functional teams that are formed to utilize individual expertise. A project manager, whose primary responsibility is to achieve project goals, deals with these individuals. Since the rational and emotional aspects of a project can be proved quite complex, the role of the project manager is essential for the project success. Emotional competences are a benchmark for project managers and leaders. Successful leadership requires both cognitive and emotional competencies and cannot be relied just on technical competencies. Emotional intelligence is the skill that differentiates the top performers. Especially in the current business environment, project managers need not only to manage global, virtual, and multicultural projects, but also to establish a direction and align with the organization’s vision. This article primarily explains the importance of EI in project management and underlines the key areas involved in emotional intelligence for project managers and subsequently leaders.

The Importance of EI in PM

Emotional Intelligence (EI) can be traced back in the early 1920s, identified in the bigger concept of "social intelligence" by E.L. Thorndike.