Emotional intelligence and success of project management: the mediating effect of interpersonal skills

This article aims at evaluating the relationship between emotional intelligence, project management interpersonal skills, and successful project management; more specifically, analysing the mediating effect that the manager's skills have on the direct relationship between emotional intelligence and the success of project management. A quantitative study was conducted among 119 respondents in Brazil. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling. The results show a positive and significant relationship between emotional intelligence and the project manager's interpersonal skills and between skills and the success at project management. The influence of emotional intelligence in the success at project management is completely mediated by the project manager's interpersonal skills. The proposed model suggests that there is not a direct effect of emotional intelligence on the success at project management. This effect occurs indirectly, via the interpersonal skills of the project manager.