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Organisations are now constantly evolving, often causing ‘Transformation Fatigue’ but is one competency that is rising to this challenge and it is EI. It is not simply just another soft skill, it is a leadership quality that brings resilience, understanding and depth to the disciplined practice of project management.
As defined in 'Empathy and Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers', EI involves a core set of competencies:
• Self-Awareness: Recognising your own emotional responses and triggers.
• Self-Regulation: Managing emotions under pressure, particularly during change or conflict.
• Social Awareness: Sensing the emotional state of others—especially stakeholders or team members.
• Relationship Management: Using empathy and communication to build trust, resolve issues, and influence outcomes.
These emotional competencies aren't separate from structured project training—they support, activate, and sustain it.
Take a look at exactly how Emotional Intelligence can provide an extra layer of support to our vital project and change approaches:
PRINCE2® provides excellent structure, especially in areas like governance, risk, and stage planning. It is a traditional linear approach which means that each stage of a project must be complete before another begins and there must be continued justification for the project via the ‘Business Case.’
Process driven to the max, PRINCE2® leaves little room for error when it comes to pinning down the processes and documentation.
But it does leave room for instruction on how to lead. EI enhances PRINCE2® 7 by:
• Supporting the Project Manager's role in stakeholder engagement, especially under pressure.
• Improving communication quality between the Project Board and delivery teams.
• Strengthening leadership capability during exception situations or change impact discussions.
The APM PMQ covers the "how" and "what" of project management, including communication, leadership, teamwork, and conflict resolution.
It acknowledges behavioural skills so it really is giving a huge nod to Emotional Intelligence and its importance already.
EI supports APM PMQ by:
• Developing real-world emotional agility to lead teams effectively, particularly through stress or challenge.
• Enhancing the manager’s ability to motivate individuals and manage different personalities.
• Applying empathy in team dynamics, enabling smoother conflict resolution and collaboration.
Change Management qualifications often focus on stakeholder mapping, resistance models (like ADKAR or Kubler-Ross), and communication planning.
It talks about how to identify key stakeholders and the importance of communication. If anything, this approach considers the human element of change more than any other. But real change succeeds when people feel heard, safe, and empowered—this is where EI shines. It is an essential component of Change Management.
EI enhances Change Management by:
• Enabling empathy-led stakeholder engagement, especially when emotions run high.
• Helping change leaders interpret the emotional signals of resistance and engage accordingly.
• Facilitating psychologically safe spaces for feedback, reflection, and adaptation.
Across all major training frameworks, EI can be viewed as a “meta-skill”—it doesn’t override your formal training, but it supports your ability to apply it with impact. It’s the essential component that we will need when running our projects and change initiatives in the real world!
“Frameworks help you build the plan. Emotional intelligence helps you build the relationships that make the plan happen.”
Empathy and Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers
Whether you’re working with Agile teams, managing portfolios with MSP, or leading a complex business transformation, your technical knowledge will take you far. But it’s how you lead, connect, and respond, that determines whether people follow.
EI doesn't compete with project training frameworks—it supports and activates them. It turns stakeholder registers into conversations, governance into trust, and process into progress.
So, if you're already pursuing PRINCE2® 7, APM, or Change Management certifications come and talk to us about this and we can provide you with this extra layer of expertise.
It could be the difference between being qualified and being transformational.
The eBook from from which this information derives is avaialble on Amazon Kindle and Audible titled:
Ready to level up your project management skills on the go?
Discover our expert-led audiobook packed with insights, real-world examples, and practical strategies you can apply immediately.
Call 01202 736 373 or email sales@spoce.com for a promotion code that gives you free access to this book.
Want to explore PRINCE2®, APM or Change Management qualifications with EI in mind? Call 01202 736 373
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