Applying Emotional Intelligence

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About this lesson

A project manager can use the principles of emotional intelligence to improve their active listening skills. In addition, the application of emotional intelligence to project team and stakeholder interactions can reduce conflict and improve alignment between individuals.

Quick reference

Applying Emotional Intelligence

Applying the emotional intelligence model in a project team should improve the team dynamics.  Individuals with high emotional intelligence will normally have a positive impact on the team.

When to use

Everyone has emotions, therefore the application of emotional intelligence is always applicable.  Within the life of a project team, emotional intelligence is especially helpful when the team is under stress or other factors are creating emotional responses from team members.   

Instructions

Since individuals with high emotional intelligence are able to recognize the emotional needs of others, their contribution to team dynamics is often very positive. They are perceived by others as positive and supportive people because they react to emotional issues in a manner that seems to be appropriate to most of the other team members.

In fact, research has shown that individuals with high emotional intelligence report:

  • Better academic achievement.
  • Better social relations during work performance and in team negotiations.
  • Better social relations with individuals representing all types of diversity.
  • Better family and intimate relationships.
  • Better psychological well-being.

However, there is a negative side to emotional intelligence. The model focuses on controlling one’s own emotions and influencing others' emotions. But it does not provide a moral compass. A person with evil or selfish intentions can use emotional intelligence to manipulate others through their emotional responses. We have seen examples of this throughout history in charismatic, but evil leaders of countries or movements. It is important for the project team to have a clear charter that can be used to hold leaders accountable if they start to manipulate the project for personal gain or promotion. In addition, because emotional intelligence puts so much focus on controlling one’s own emotions, it can have a tendency to reinforce selfish and self-centered behavior.

Hints & tips

  • All things considered, emotional intelligence is an excellent model, but ensure there are safeguards against manipulative individuals.
  • If a team is struggling with internal conflict, consider taking the entire team through emotional intelligence training.
  • Strong emotions can create physiological impacts on the body, some of which are good but most are not.  Learn the competencies so as to be better able to control your own response to an emotional situation.
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  • 00:01 Hi, I'm Ray Sheen.
  • 00:05 We've looked at the principles of emotional intelligence in
  • 00:08 an earlier lesson.
  • 00:09 Now, let's consider how we can apply these on our project.
  • 00:13 First, I want to discuss the benefits and advantages to the project,
  • 00:17 from effective use of the principles of emotional intelligence.
  • 00:21 Team members with high emotional intelligence can recognize the emotional
  • 00:25 needs of others on the team.
  • 00:26 In fact, they can recognize the different emotional needs of each other, and
  • 00:30 are aware of their own emotional needs, and able to self regulate their emotions.
  • 00:35 Because of the ability to empathize with others, and their strong social skills,
  • 00:39 the individuals with high emotional intelligence are perceived as
  • 00:42 more positive.
  • 00:43 They can provide that encouraging word right when it's needed, and
  • 00:46 be a sympathetic ear when that's appropriate.
  • 00:49 The research conducted with these individuals has led to some
  • 00:52 very interesting findings.
  • 00:54 One finding is that individuals with high emotional intelligence have higher
  • 00:58 academic achievement.
  • 00:59 You might ask yourself what the correlation is between academics and
  • 01:03 emotions.
  • 01:04 A big one is that they're able to control their own emotions.
  • 01:07 They can create and maintain motivation when required.
  • 01:10 And they can use their emotions to reduce the disorienting aspects of anger and
  • 01:14 frustration.
  • 01:15 So in this case, it was the management of internal emotions.
  • 01:19 But another finding that is not a surprise,
  • 01:21 is that they have better social relationships with team members.
  • 01:24 A good way to describe this is that they were considered to be good friends with
  • 01:29 everyone.
  • 01:29 Another finding that is gaining importance in today's work environment is that they
  • 01:34 had better relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.
  • 01:37 Regardless of their background all people are emotional.
  • 01:41 Emotional intelligence is not centered on ethnicity, gender,
  • 01:44 or some other cultural attribute.
  • 01:46 So, those with high emotional intelligence do not see the diversity structures of
  • 01:51 society as boundaries for interaction.
  • 01:54 While we have been focusing on the work environment in general, and
  • 01:58 project teams in particular, the principles apply to all relationships.
  • 02:02 Therefore, it's no surprise to find that individuals with high emotional
  • 02:05 intelligence also have better family relationships.
  • 02:09 And finally, in part due to their ability to control their emotional response,
  • 02:12 they have a better psychological well being.
  • 02:15 Those with high emotional intelligence are less likely to perceive themselves as
  • 02:20 victims.
  • 02:21 Because they have the ability to self control and self motivate.
  • 02:24 Thanks to those two attributes of emotional intelligence,
  • 02:27 these individuals are better able to fulfill their dreams, and
  • 02:31 reach that enviable state of self actualization.
  • 02:33 As I alluded in the previous lesson,
  • 02:35 there are some dangers associated with emotional intelligence.
  • 02:39 If you're aware of them,
  • 02:41 you'll be better able to manage your team through these dangers.
  • 02:44 One of the dangers is that emotional intelligence,
  • 02:47 at least as it's typically taught, lacks a moral code or compass.
  • 02:51 It is focused on physiological and psychological stimulus and responses.
  • 02:56 So, a critical concern is the goal of the person with high emotional intelligence.
  • 03:00 In most cases the goal of the person seeking to master emotional intelligence,
  • 03:04 is either to use it to help themselves.
  • 03:07 Or they seek to master it so
  • 03:08 they can use it to manipulate others in a way that furthers their goals.
  • 03:12 The emphasis from the training is on gaining the skills of emotional
  • 03:16 intelligence, and not the purpose for which they are used.
  • 03:20 Now, you may have an altruistic view of mankind and
  • 03:23 assume that given the opportunity people will use this for good.
  • 03:27 My only comment is that based on 1000s of years of history of humanity,
  • 03:31 it would indicate this is probably not a good assumption.
  • 03:34 In fact, emotional intelligence has a tendency to reinforce the concept that
  • 03:39 the world revolves around that individual.
  • 03:42 Three of the five competencies, self awareness, self control, and
  • 03:45 motivation are focused on the individual.
  • 03:47 And that that individual person gains control and
  • 03:50 achieves their own vision of self actualization.
  • 03:53 The other two are much more outward focused competencies.
  • 03:56 But they're often taught and applied in a manner that focuses on manipulating others
  • 04:01 through their emotions,
  • 04:02 in order to get them to align with the individual's goals or purposes.
  • 04:07 If the individual's goal is self serving one, or is geared towards personal profit
  • 04:12 or personal gratification, the others will be manipulated to support that goal,
  • 04:16 often at the expense of their own well being.
  • 04:19 A good safeguard for project team is a strong charter with a clear purpose.
  • 04:24 Then if someone does begin to manipulate, there's a standard for
  • 04:28 everyone to fall back upon and point towards.
  • 04:30 Unbalanced, it's better for a project leader to have high emotional intelligence
  • 04:35 in order to improve both theirs and their team's performance.
  • 04:39 But keep your charter handy to make sure you can guide the team, and
  • 04:42 prevent one team member from negatively manipulating the rest.

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