Project Management in the Future: The Importance of Emotional Intelligence

We can confidently predict that changes in technology, the economy, society, and the environment will affect project management. Emotional intelligence, which has to do with how you act in social circumstances, is a key skill that demands special attention. The ability to foster cooperation, have a keen grasp of human behavior, and think strategically are skills that project managers will always need. Technical expertise can be acquired, but developing soft skills is more challenging.

As the AI era begins, there are several promises being made regarding the use of technology and automated assistants for project management tasks. However, some PM abilities, including networking, social skills, empathy, facilitation, and persuasion, cannot be automated.

Project Managers must learn to use technology, but can not be replaced by it. They need to continue to evolve and learn new skills to stay ahead of the curve. The most successful project leaders will be those who have mastered the art of emotional intelligence. They are able to navigate through difficult conversations, create a safe environment for open dialogue, and build trust within their teams. They are also able to think strategically, see the big picture, and make decisions that are in the best interest of the project. These are the skills that will set project leaders apart in the future.

Emotional intelligence is composed of four abilities: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Each of these abilities can be learned and refined.

• Self-awareness is about understanding your own emotions and how they impact your thoughts and behavior. It also requires being aware of your own strengths and weaknesses.
• Self-management is about being able to control your emotions and reactions, even in challenging situations. It’s about setting boundaries and staying calm under pressure.
• Social awareness is about understanding the emotions of others and how they might be feeling. It’s also about being aware of social cue.
• Relationship management is about managing emotions within relationships. It’s about being able to resolve conflict, build trust, and maintain healthy relationships.

The shift towards emphasizing soft skills is crucial because software can now handle many of the "technical" aspects of project management as automation and AI introduce sophisticated functionality to our tools. I envision a time not too far off when you enter the details of your assignment into a tool, and an estimate appears based on the previous 20 projects that used the same resource and qualitative information on past performance. Utilizing the technology that is already available is the only remaining step.

The trend is toward project managers being awesome at stakeholder engagement, conflict resolution, change management, negotiating, influencing, and all the things that tools aren't (yet) capable of doing for us. This means that your interpersonal skills are more crucial than ever. Project managers with emotional intelligence are in high demand. The executive team has to be certain that you won't say or do something that will enrage anyone. Beyond that, being able to protect your team requires the ability to read social signs, which is something people with high EQ are better at.

It is clear that developing these abilities can make you a better project manager, leader, and team member. It can also make you more successful in your career.