The application of emotional intelligence in construction project management: A systematic literature review

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a critical attribute of successful project management professionals. This paper aims to identify the recent trends in EI research in the context of construction projects to inform future research opportunities. To do so, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to examine the ambit of relevant research in the construction sector between January 2010 and August 2021. A total of 20 peer-reviewed empirical articles published between January 2010 - August 2021 were identified and synthesised. The findings revealed that EI in the context of the construction industry has been narrowly researched in the last decade. The reviewed studies appeared to be highly country-specific and adopted predominantly quantitative research approaches. They addressed various aspects connected to EI including project performance, project professionals’ performance, conflict management, leadership and mediating factors. The paper concludes by identifying a number of research areas moving forward. This study, despite its obvious limitations, contributes to the existing knowledge by providing a single point of reference not only for interested researchers but also practitioners who have a growing interest as to how EI is practised, applied and harnessed in construction projects.