3.6. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence

Emotions are both a mental and physiological response to environmental and internal stimuli. Leaders need to understand and value their emotions to appropriately respond to the client, project team, and project environment.

Emotional intelligence includes the following:

• Self-awareness
• Self-regulation
• Empathy
• Relationship management

Emotions are important to generating energy around a concept, building commitment to goals, and developing high-performing teams. Emotional intelligence (EI) is an important part of the project manager’s ability to build trust among the team members and with the client. It is an important factor in establishing credibility and an open dialogue with project stakeholders. Emotional intelligence is critical for project managers, and the more complex the project profile, the more important the project manager’s emotional intelligence becomes to project success.

Human Resources could provide Emotional Intelligence training for the Project Manager and the team members. This training could be offered at the beginning of the project or during the project.  It would support the team in reducing stress, how to react to critics, overcome their fears, assist with communication development, increase social skills and create a positive work setting during the project.