A vital soft skill in project management, emotional intelligence (EQ) enables one to comprehend, control, and affect emotions—both personal and those of others. Greater EQ promotes team cooperation, dispute resolution, and leadership.
Key Components of EQ in Project Management:
- Self-Awareness: Recognizing one’s emotions and their impact on decision-making.
- Self-Regulation: Managing stress, staying adaptable, and controlling impulses.
- Motivation: Maintaining enthusiasm and resilience despite challenges.
- Empathy: Understanding and addressing team members’ concerns.
- Social Skills: Building strong relationships and fostering collaboration.
Example in Team Leadership:
High EQ project managers observe developers being demotivated from uncertain expectations. The manager talks about issues, clarifies expectations, and offers support instead of criticising them, therefore raising morale and performance.
Why It Matters:
Projects succeed with great interpersonal and leadership skills in addition to technical proficiency. High EQ increases involvement of stakeholders, lowers conflict, and strengthens teamwork.
