Emotions, skills and intra-entrepreneurship: mapping the field and future research opportunities

Abstract Employability, and especially entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, is a topic attracting the interest of researchers in recent years. Although knowledge about creating and managing a company is essential (hard skills), the importance of other competencies such as soft skills and emotional intelligence has also been highlighted in recent years. This study analyzes documents related to Emotional Intelligence, Soft Skills, Hard Skills and their relationship with (intra)entrepreneurship. The methodology used was bibliometric analysis, followed by a bibliographic coupling and identification of thematic areas within this field of study. A total of 121 documents were analyzed, following the PRISMA protocol. The results showed an upward trend over the last five years in the production of works in this field, accounting for approximately 75% of the total number of articles found. Seven different sub-themes were identified. The theme with the most significant impact, which generates the most interest among the scientific community, encompasses personal relationships, emotional intelligence, and the positive work climate for a company’s growth. Finally, a series of implications and future lines of study are proposed to help develop and consolidate this research field.