IMPACT OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

 

Project stakeholders always strive for a successful project, hence there is growing concern about the factors that influence project success. Although the success of a project is influenced by various factors.
Emotional intelligence was defined by Salovey as the “ability to monitor one’s own and other’s feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them, and use this information to guide one’s thinking and action”. When one considers that meaning it is easy to see how important it would be to project managers in their daily work.
Areas where Emotional Intelligence is important in Project Management:

• Building relationships, both with and between team members
• Ensuring successful cooperating on tasks
• Negotiating and finding points of compromise within the team and with external stakeholders
• Creating collaborative efficiencies to the advantage of the project
• Resolving disputes and managing personal differences
• Developing contacts with contractors and suppliers

 
To understand better how Emotional Intelligence works and how you can make it work for you we’ll take a look at the five major elements that comprise EI according to Goleman.
 
SELF-AWARENESS
Being honest with yourself and aware of your flaws or areas you want to work on is a key sign of Emotional Intelligence. Without the ability to reflect on yourself objectively you will forever be in danger of laying all the blame on others or failing to see your own contribution to situations.
SELF-REGULATION
We all feel emotions, without them, we wouldn’t be human. These can be positive or negative and vary in intensity. Having the self-awareness to recognize your emotions in situations, it is also important to be able to hold them in check or channel their energy into creating positive outcomes for the project.
EMPATHY
It can be very easy to go through life lost in one’s own emotions and expectations, never noticing how others are feeling unless they broach the subject directly. As a project stakeholder, however, it is vital to be able to have one’s finger constantly on the emotional pulse of your team. This is achieved through empathy, taking an interest in those around you and the possible emotions they could be feeling. By constantly noting people’s mood you’ll be able to recognize any sudden fluctuations which could be warning signs.
SOCIAL SKILLS
Not everyone is a natural communicator and some people prefer brevity both for reasons of clarity and expediency. If you feel that communication is not one of your strong points be aware of it and note that it’s an area you should make an extra effort in for the sake of your project. Improving your social skills can have a very positive impact on many areas of your responsibilities.
MOTIVATION
There are many reasons to be motivated to do the work in front of you or to develop your leadership skills. The primary ones which are presented in a professional situation are the promise of bonuses, wage increases or a more senior title. It is also very useful, however, to have a deeper motivation for what you are doing, such as it being a step up on your life-path or improving your understanding and enjoyment of a particular field.