Key Attitudes: Unlocking the Relationships between Emotional Intelligence and Performance in Construction Projects

Abstract

A large body of empirical and theoretical work has identified associations between emotional intelligence and positive outcomes in large-scale projects. However, scholars have yet to fully understand the mechanisms underlying these links. In this study, we sought to investigate the mediating influences of commitment, team satisfaction, and turnover intention on these associations. An analysis of data collected from 341 project team members in large-scale construction projects showed that construction project workers with higher emotional intelligence exhibit higher satisfaction, greater commitment towards their job, and lower turnover intentions. Additionally, role ambiguity acts to weaken the positive association between team satisfaction and performance. This research contributes to project management literature and has clear implications for building and training project teams in large-scale construction projects.