By Dr Samer Skaik
The construction industry, known for its complexity and high-pressure environment, has recently seen a growing interest in the application of Emotional Intelligence (EI) within project management. A recent study has explored this emerging field, revealing both the current state of research and providing recommendations for future studies.
Main Findings: A Diverse but Limited Exploration
The study conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) focusing on the intersection of EI and construction project management. It uncovered that while EI has been researched in relation to various aspects of project performance—including individual and team performance, leadership, conflict management, and project managers’ skills development—none of these areas have been extensively covered. The limited number of articles in each category indicates that EI in construction has not yet received the attention it warrants.
Geographically, the research is concentrated in a few countries, with Australia and China accounting for 60% of the published articles. Surprisingly, there has been little to no research from Europe, Africa, Asia, or the USA, highlighting a significant gap in the global understanding of EI in construction. Despite the rising interest in recent years, the number of published empirical articles remains modest, with an average of only 1.6 articles per year over the past decade.
EI’s Impact on Project and Team Performance
Despite the limited scope of research, several studies have demonstrated the positive impact of EI on project outcomes. For instance, EI has been shown to significantly enhance individual, team, and innovative performance within construction projects. Studies conducted in Australia and China have found that emotionally intelligent project managers contribute substantially to project success. However, the generalization of these findings is limited due to their country-specific contexts.
The study also identified trust as a key mediator between EI and team performance, highlighting the importance of leadership styles in fostering collaboration and managing conflicts. Emotionally intelligent project managers are more likely to adopt transformational leadership styles, which are crucial in navigating the complex dynamics of construction projects.
Future Research Directions: Expanding the Scope
The study calls for broader and more rigorous research efforts to fully understand the role of EI in construction. Future studies should aim to replicate existing research in different socio-economic and cultural contexts to enhance the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, there is a need for more qualitative research approaches, including interviews, focus groups, and case studies, to provide a richer and more comprehensive understanding of EI.
Another area for future exploration is the comparison of EI’s impact across projects of varying sizes and complexities. This could reveal whether different types of projects require distinct approaches to EI. Moreover, the study suggests investigating additional mediators, such as communication, task dependencies, and other human skills, to better understand the relationship between EI and project outcomes.
Conclusion: A Growing but Incomplete Field of Study
While the research on EI in construction project management is progressing, it remains in its early stages. The findings so far indicate that EI plays a crucial role in enhancing project and team performance, but the limited scope of the research means that much more work is needed. By expanding the research to include more diverse contexts and methodologies, future studies can provide a more comprehensive understanding of how EI can be leveraged to improve outcomes in construction project management.
This growing body of research holds the potential to transform how project managers approach leadership and team dynamics in the construction industry, paving the way for more emotionally intelligent and successful project outcomes.
The full study can be downloaded from this link:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/369089207_The_Application_of_Emotional_Intelligence_in_Construction_Project_Management_A_Systematic_Literature_Review