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This lens is written to help Project Managers understand emotional intelligence and how to apply it. If you are new to emotional intelligence, I highly recommend that you skip down below and find the FOUNDATIONS series which will explain about the application of emotional intelligence to project management. You can also just dive in anywhere!
Why emotional intelligence for project managers? Projects are inherently risky and project managers need all the help they can get to succeed. Project managers cannot rely only on those hard PM skills and an understanding the PMBOK Guide; they also need soft skills or interpersonal skills. By understanding emotional intelligence, they can leverage their emotions to build their soft skills and charisma.
Projects are fundamentally about relationships. The better project managers are at developing and sustaining relationships, the more successful their projects will be. Emotional Intelligence provides a framework for excelling at soft skills and building the relationships necessary to succeed.
Emotional Intelligence Workshops from the Project Advisors Group
Learn to leverage emotional intelligence to improve your performance as a project manager or IT professional.
- The EQ Workshops - Helping Project Managers Succeed
- These workshops will teach participants to understand and apply emotional intelligence to typical work situations. These are highly interactive workshops that are packed with exercises designed to build new skills.
Research shows that emotional intelligence is just as important as IQ or knowledge of the PMBOK® Guide. Increase your emotional competencies to improve your project management and leadership skills.
Here are the current workshop offerings for project managers:
An Introduction to Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers
Advanced Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers
Leading Teams with Emotional Intelligence
Each of these workshops is limited to 16 participants to enhance the learning experience, so sign up now to reserve your seat.
Get the Book - Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers
I am excited to report that my book is now available on Amazon.com. Hurrah!
Order your copy of Emotional Intelligence Guide for Project Managers today. In fact, buy one for every member of your team.Order From Amazom.com
Project Managers Must Be Emotionally Intelligent
New Book from J. Rodney Turner and Ralf Mueller
In their recent book, "Choosing Appropriate Project Managers", Turner and Mueller share their research that shows that the emotional intelligence of the project manager is linked to the success of the project. They conclude that:"Project managers must be emotionally intelligent."
- J. Rodney Turner and Ralf Mueller
In fact, their research shows that the emotional competencies you need are going to be different based on the different types of projects that you perform.
This PMI sponsored research is rich with lessons for those of us who are practicing PMs, those that teach PMs, and those that select PMs and assign them to projects.
You can get a copy of the book directly from the PMI bookstore at Order Here
What Are Your Feeling?
Our emotions are constantly in motion. How can you tell what you are feeling at any one time? Try using the SASHET acronym representing 6 families of emotions. SASHET represents the emotional families of Sad, Angry, Scared, Happy, Excited and Tender as shown in the diagram.
Note that the emotions are low intensity toward the center of the wheel and increase in intensity as you move outward.
Want a larger view of the diagram? Click here to go to the file.
Latest Posts from the EQ4PM Blog
This is the latest stuff directly from the project management and emotional intelligence research labs. (Actually it comes from my projects and my computer.) To see everything being worked on, go directly to www.typepad.eq4pm.com.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byFOUNDATIONS #1 Introduction to The Project Managers Guide to Emotional Intelligence
Best of the Posts on the Topic
- Exactly what are Emotions?
- Here is a quick overview of Six Families of Emotions which represent virtually all emotions.
- What is Emotional Intelligence?
- This post explores in general what Emotional Intelligence is.
- Importance of Emotional Intelligence to PMs
- Explores why Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is important to Project Managers.
FOUNDATIONS #2 Self Awareness is the First Building Block PMs Need to Understand
Project Managers need to learn to be Aware of their Emotions.
- Applied EQ #14: You Must Be Present to Win
- Self Awareness starts with understanding what is going on with us in the present moment.
- Applied EQ #9 - Conducting a Physical Inventory to become Aware of Your Feelings
- Sometimes you have to get physical to become aware of your feelings.
- Applied EQ #10: Face it, Your Emotions Show on Your Face
- Faces reveal our emotions, even for poker players.
FOUNDATIONS #3 Self-Management is the Second Building Block PMs need to Understand
Project Managers need to manage their Emotions.
- Applied EQ #15: Introducing Self-Management
- This provides a little background on what emotional self management is all about.
- Applied EQ #18: Self-Management Includes Self-Control
- Self-control is about being in control of our emotions.
- Applied EQ #20: Project Managers need to Avoid Emotional Breakdowns
- Emotional Breakdowns are when we "lose it".
FOUNDATIONS #4 Social Awareness is the Third Building Block of EQ for PMs
Social Awareness is about reading others accurately.
- Applied EQ #32: An Introduction to Social Awareness
- This post provides a brief description of Social Awareness.
- Applied EQ #34: Project Managers and Empathy
- This post is about Project Managers and the use of Empathy. This is in contrast to the "Just Do It" approach which lacks empathy.
- Applied EQ #35: Empathetic Listening Skills for Project Managers
- This post provides a step by step approach for listening with Empathy. While not easy, the payoff is big for those who can begin to master empathetic listening.
FOUNDATIONS #5 Relationship Management is the Fourth Building Block of EQ for PMs
How we deal with others is the key to the success of our projects.
- Introduction to Relationship Management
- This post talks about relationship management and why it is important to project managers.
- What the Experts say about Relationship Management
- This post shows the evolution of Daniel Goleman's framework for Relationship Management.
Related Squidoo Lenses
If you are interested in Emotional Intelligence, here are some related lenses which may be of value to you.
- Practical EQ - Emotional Intelligence for the rest of us
- Andy Smith is the lensmaster of this lens focused on Emotional Intelligence for managers. Seems like a no-brainer that this content will be helpful to project managers.
- Coaching with Emotional Intelligence
- Dr. Susan R. Meyer is the lensmaster. While not as robust as Andy Smith's, there is content here that is of value to project managers.
- Emotional Intelligence at Work
- Joseph Liberti has developed this lens to show practical application of emotional intelligence in the workplace.
Five Books PMs Can Read to Start Learning about Emotional Intelligence
These books are the best starting point for Project Managers who want to learn more about Emotional Intelligence.
Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers: The People Skills You Need to Achieve Outstanding Results
If you are a PM and you are only going to buy one book on emotional intelligence, this is the book for you.
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 07/26/2008)
Primal Leadership: Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence
This is one of the better Goleman books on emotional intelligence, perhaps because of the addition of authors Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee.
Amazon Price: $11.56 (as of 07/26/2008)
Working with Emotional Intelligence
This is Daniel Goleman's second book on emotional intelligence. It is more focused on the workplace and it contains a refined framework for emotional intelligence.
Release Date: 01/04/2000
Amazon Price: $11.56 (as of 07/26/2008)
At the Heart of Leadership: How to Get Results with Emotional Intelligence
This book by Joshua Freedman of the Six Seconds Network is well written and follows the Six Second framework for applying emotional intelligence to leadership.
Amazon Price: $18.95 (as of 07/26/2008)
Leaders' Playbook: How to Apply Emotional Intelligence-Keys to Great Leadership
This book is relatively new and focuses on a handful of emotional intelligence competencies that leaders must have.
Release Date: 03/01/2007
Amazon Price: $38.95 (as of 07/26/2008)
Digging Deeper - More Emotional Intelligence Resources on the Web
There is a lot of information out there so tie a sturdy rope around your waist and prepare to wander around a bit.
- Tune Up Your EQ
- This blog is written by Galba Bright and contains many resources for people seeking help with emotional intelligence. Download Galba's "Tune Up Your EQ Workbook" for a tool that is helpful and will provide insights into your own emotional state.
Galba has also written on the linkages between a Project Manager's emotional intelligence and project success. He even references my work, so clearly he knows what he is talking about! - Wikipedia for Emotional Intelligence
- This is a great place for beginners to dive in and get an overview of Emotional Intelligence. The Wikipedia provides a summary of the history, the various researchers involved, and some of the assessment instruments in use today.
- The EI Consortium
- The EI Consortium includes the following high profile EQ researchers and practioners: Richard Boyatzis, Robert Caplan, Cary Cherniss, Daniel Goleman, Marilyn Gowing, Kathy Kram, Richard Price, and Lyle Spencer, Jr.
- Emotional IQ
- This "other" camp of researchers includes some of the guys who invented the term emotional intelligence: John Mayer, Peter Salovey, and David Caruso. Much of their recent writing runs counter to Goleman and the rest of the EI Consortium bunch.
- Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Network
- This site has at least 20,000 articles and resources on Emotional Intelligence. Well, maybe I exaggerate. One thing I found helpful was a comparison of the various emotional intelligence "tests" or instruments available on the market.
- Benefits of Emotional Intelligence to Project Managers
- This study focuses on exploring the benefits of emotional intelligence for project leadership and conflict management and resolution. The results indicated that emotional intelligence affects leadership behavior in openness of communication.
