Gerald MetzgerPartner| PwCPalm Beach Gardens, Fl, United States
It's easy to say we are self-aware and considering our team members feelings. So my question is: What is your experience with emotional intelligence in other project managers (not yourself)? Think of projects you have been in the past few years: are the project managers becoming better at it and can you remember examples and the impact? Saving Changes...
Rajeev SharmaPrincipal Consultant | Strategy, EA CoE | Digital Transformation, AI and Gen-AI| Tech MahindraGurgaon, Haryana, India
Emotional intelligence should be a key element in project management. Some of the projects which i observed in my ecosystem were badly managed w.r.t emotional impacts and translating them into positive outcomes.
Emotional intelligence of a PM can help in positively activating parasympathetic nervous system of team members, can motivate them to achieve shared objective/goals efficiently and transform a project manager into a resonant personality.
Project managers needs to focus on this skill as well. Saving Changes...
I would say it's about the same, and the reason is that project managers can be great managers, but not always great leaders. This is partly due to not having to possess core leadership competencies per se, provided they have the appropriate management and soft skills to "get by". EI is in my view critically important, and a project manager who masters this very rare attribute will invariably be able to deal a lot better with those lacking in EI or completely devoid of it: our esteemed stakeholders. Saving Changes...
While there's been much greater focus in the last couple of decades on EI and developing one's EQ, it comes down to an individual's self-awareness, their willingness to develop themselves and the support they have from their organizations to be capable of doing so.
In companies with a higher level of organizational project management maturity, resources (e.g. mentoring, formal training, self-assessments) will be available to help PMs grow.
Project complexity IS increasing and a major contributor to that is attributes which require a high degree of EI. If we assume that project failure rates are not increasing proportionally, then it would seem to imply that in general, PMs are getting better with interpersonal skills...
Kiron Saving Changes...
Anish AbrahamPrivacy Program Manager| University of WashingtonAuburn, Wa, United States
I think it's getting better, because PMs know that EI is the key to project success. The better they are at identifying their own emotional state, the better they will be able to recognize and understand other people’s emotions. Saving Changes...
Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
Where I work I do not think the managers are using emotional intelligence. This is not through any fault of their own. The lack of processes and procedures along with the fact that everyone is stretched too thin has caused people to focus only on themselves and getting their work done. This is not an excuse. It is just the way things are currently.
I am hoping this will soon change with new leadership and supportive processes and procedures.. Saving Changes...
Deepa KalangiManager, Program Management, Author, Trainer| CVS HealthCharlotte, NC, United States
I still see the same old practices being used by the PM's. If one is coming out of the comfort zone for either questioning or bringing solutions on the table, it is not regarded, simply because of the mindset that the companies have developed on the Project Manager's duties. Like Kiron mentioned, PM's are still managing, not developing as leaders. At least the large scale projects, big giants have this culture. So, the fellow PM's are also using the same tactics to manage projects, I have not seen the EI being used... at least not yet. Again, it depends on the company's culture. Saving Changes...
Tim PodestaDirector of PM/PMO| Former BP- now IndependentPenn, Bucks, United Kingdom
The best project managers have always been good at EI. What is changing I hope is awareness of the importance of EI. Saving Changes...
Gerald MetzgerPartner| PwCPalm Beach Gardens, Fl, United States
Thanks for all responses. I agree with pretty much all of you.
A few key points that were made:
-Emotional intelligence (EI) is considered important but it is not widespread (among PMs)
-Most project managers are focused on managing, not leading (probably because of a lack of ability)
-There seems to be little increase in EI among the PM community compared to previous years (although given the increased complexity there might be an implicit / hidden increase assuming that the project success rate has not decreased)
-Probably the best project managers naturally are good in EI
I would add that the moment budget, planning or other constraints arise in a project, EI often leaves the room, quickly. While EI is a good idea (and received a lot of hype), it is still limited in practice. Saving Changes...
Most often, management assesses employees in a logical basis and, in parallel, employees pursue organizational goals in a rational manner, developing both cognitive and practical intelligence. Emotional behavior seldom is taken into account in the day-to-day effort to achieve organizational goals. However, organizational life shows us how important emotions can be. For example, jealousy and fear in some workplace are negative emotions that can potentially and significantly transform the most rational forks and put aside their logical and rational way of thinking. Some managers use fear and other emotions to both motivate and intimidate. Whatever the way people in the workplace would use the emotional factor to influence worker’s behavior, EI generally receives less attention than it deserves in the daily business. Saving Changes...
