Why Emotional Intelligence is Important for Project Managers

Cynthia Snyder, MBA, PMP, EVP

2013 International Institute for Learning, Inc., All rights reserved.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Awareness of ones own emotions and moods and those of others, especially in managing people.
Collins English Dictionary

Four Aspects of Emotional Intelligence

Self Awareness

Self Management

EI
Social Awareness
Daniel Goleman on Leadership and the Power of Emotional Intelligence. Forbes, 2011

Social Skill

Why EI is Important
Emotional intelligence is the critical distinction between great leaders and people that have risen in the hierarchy based on their position.
Daniel Goleman. What Makes a Leader. Harvard Business Review, 2004.

Self Awareness (1 of 3)
Self awareness is the ability to recognize and monitor our thoughts and feelings.
Self Awareness EI Social Awareness Social Skill Self Management

Daniel Goleman on Leadership and the Power of Emotional Intelligence. Forbes, 2011

Self Awareness (2 of 3)
Recognize your moods and emotions
Conduct a realistic self assessment

Self Awareness (3 of 3)
Recognize your moods and emotions
Conduct a realistic self assessment

Self Management (1 of 4)
Self management is the ability to think before acting. It entails suspending snap judgments and impulsive decisions and choices.
Self Awareness EI Social Awareness Social Skill Self Management

Daniel Goleman on Leadership and the Power of Emotional Intelligence. Forbes, 2011

Self Management (2 of 4)
Trustworthiness
Ability to handle change and uncertainty

Self Management (3 of 4)
Trustworthiness
Ability to handle change and uncertainty

Self Management (4 of 4)
1. 2. 3.

Fight Flight Freeze

Work Stressors
1. 2. 3.

Condescension and lack of respect Being treated unfairly Lack of appreciation

4.
5.

Believing you are not being listened to

Being held to unrealistic expectations

Social Awareness (1 of 6)
Social awareness is the state of being aware of the emotional condition of others.
Self Awareness EI Social Awareness Social Skill Self Management

Daniel Goleman on Leadership and the Power of Emotional Intelligence. Forbes, 2011

Social Awareness (2 of 6)
1. 2. 3.

Awareness of how others feel Ability to read non-verbal cues Empathy

Social Awareness (3 of 6)
1. 2. 3.

Awareness of how others feel Ability to read non-verbal cues Empathy

Social Awareness (4 of 6)
1. 2. 3.

Awareness of how others feel Ability to read non-verbal cues Empathy

Social Awareness (5 of 6)
1. 2. 3.

Awareness of how others feel Ability to read non-verbal cues Empathy

Social Awareness (6 of 6)
There are seven universal emotions:
Joy Sadness Anger Contempt Disgust Fear Surprise

Social Skill (1 of 3)
Social skill is about managing groups of people, such as project teams, building social networks, finding common ground with various stakeholders, and building rapport.
Self Awareness EI Social Awareness Social Skill Self Management

Daniel Goleman on Leadership and the Power of Emotional Intelligence. Forbes, 2011

Social Skill (2 of 3)
Build rapport and relationships Effective in building and managing groups

Social Skill (3 of 3)
Build rapport and relationships Effective in building and managing groups

The Emotionally Intelligent Leader

I recognize my emotions. I manage my responses to my emotions. I am aware of others emotions, body language, and tonality.

I build rapport with people and can lead teams in productive behavior.

Increasing Emotional Intelligence

1. Identify the people, situations, or events that triggered your emotional reaction. 2. Reflect on the triggers and learn to recognize them. 3. Determine appropriate responses for each trigger. 4. Talk to yourself about how you will react to a similar situation in the future. You can even visualize the event happening with a new outcome.

Developing Social Awareness

1. Focus on a persons body language, gestures, and tone of voice. 2. If you see someone who is saying one thing, but his body language and tone are saying another, take a moment and check in with him. 3. Ask him how he is doing or if there is anything going on that is distracting or bothering him.

Improving Social Skills

1. Give everyone you talk to your full attention without distractions.

2. Ignore your phone, messages, texts, and other distractions, and focus on the person you are with.
3. Make eye contact.

4. Pay attention to your non-verbal cues and make sure you maintain an open and attentive posture.

Tools You Can Explore

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/ei_quiz http://personality-testing.info/tests/EI.php www.queendom.com/tests/ Manage to Lead: Flexing Your Leadership Style.
Project Management Institute, 2012.

Questions?

Intelligence Integrity Innovation

We invite you to take a closer look at what we can accomplish together. Please visit iil.com or contact learning@iil.com to learn more about our training, consulting, coaching, customized courses and other pathways for professional development.

Connect with Us:

facebook.com/IIL.Inc @IILGlobal bit.ly/IILlinkedin
2013 International Institute for Learning, Inc., All rights reserved.

bit.ly/IILgoogle youtube.com/IILGlobal allpm.com