The impact of a training programme designed to target the emotional intelligence abilities of project managers

Emotional intelligence (EI) has been suggested as underpinning a number of behaviours considered important for project management however few studies have been conducted to date examining whether training can improve EI. A sample of project managers in the UK attended one of three 2-day EI training programmes and the effects of the training evaluated to determine its impact on emotional intelligence abilities, empathy, and the project manager competences of teamwork and managing conflict considered to be underpinned by EI. Using a pre/post test research design, positive effects were found 6 months later in the emotional ability, understanding emotions as well as the two project manager competences. Data collected 1 month post training showed no significant changes. The results suggest that training can have an impact on the emotional intelligence of project managers but that other conditions following attendance on training may also be necessary.