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Emotional Intelligence (EI)—often referred to as a "soft skill" is being recognised as an important support to traditional project training approaches and rightly so. It helps project leaders navigate the sheer myriad of potential complexities that us human beings provide.
We are not for one second saying that EI in any way can replace training in governance and project delivery but it can definitely amplify the impact you are looking for.
In the eBook Empathy and Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers, the authors outline how self-awareness, empathy, emotional regulation, and relationship management can elevate project leaders and their performance by:
• Communicating to stakeholders in the most effective way
• Building collaborative, supportive and effective teams
• Recognising potential conflict before it becomes ‘a thing’
• Motivating the users, stakeholders and those impacted by the change through the uncertainty
Why? Because often frameworks prescribe what to do and even ‘how to do it’, but not necessarily how to connect.
A good example of this is APM. This and other frameworks might tell you to identify stakeholders, assess their influence, and manage expectations. It will provide you with tools to do this but it does not provide the 'Emotional Intelligence' which would bring that strategy to life. By helping you understand unspoken concerns, recognise emotional resistance, and tailor communication in a way that builds trust. That part, is down to you.
Lets take a look at another example. Take a project manager who notices and responds empathetically to a team member who is showing signs of disengagement and low motivation. If our project manager in questions has the ability to sense this and respond to it in a way that our team member feels heard and valued, this can only serve to make our team member transform into a more effective and driven member of the team. They won’t be going through the motions anymore.
Our training programmes are designed to teach project and change team members ‘what’ they need to know to certify but this is just part of the job we do. We take the theory and tools of structured project management and enrich them with the interpersonal intelligence needed to apply them in real, complex environments. In short, how to execute a level of EI to drive performance (yours and your teams) to the max.
EI provides its very own toolkit to sit alongside traditional methods, supporting and enhancing them, not replacing. You will know, not just how to execute project delivery but:
• Adapt your leadership style to diverse team dynamics
• Listen with intention and respond with empathy
• Communicate difficult messages with clarity and compassion
• Build long-term engagement with stakeholders and sponsors
Ultimately, emotional intelligence is the practical, people-centric layer that brings project frameworks to life. It ensures that governance is not just followed but embraced, that communication plans are not just executed but understood, and that change is not just managed but led.
Let your technical training do the planning—let emotional intelligence drive the connection.
Our courses in project, programme, and change management now come with integrated EI training, drawing on real-world insights from Empathy and Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers. Join us to complement your professional toolkit with the human skills that make a lasting impact.
The eBook from from which this information derives is available on Amazon Kindle and Audible titled:
Get the Audiobook for free!
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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