Hosts Merv Jersak and Tim Jerome discuss the importance of social skills as a key component of emotional intelligence in project management. They explore how these skills help build trust, foster relationships, and create a happier work environment. The conversation highlights practices to develop social skills, the impact of strong relationships on teamwork, and the challenges IT professionals face in this area. Their discussion incorporates historical context, personal experiences, and actionable advice for improving project delivery by focusing on the human aspects of project management.

Main Take-Aways

The project leader will be more successful in his or her endeavors by continued improvement in emotional intelligence. Social skills are critical in developing strong relationships and creating a pleasant working environment for team success:

• the importance of social skills in fostering relationships
• emotional intelligence components – like social skills – are as important as technical qualifications and process skills for the project manager and team members
• benefits of developing strong social skills
• challenges of developing social skills
• practice social skills and seek mentorship in this area

Show Notes

Today’s Project Managers Coffee Chat: The Emotionally Agile Project Manager – The Importance of Social Skills

00:29 Introducing a third component of emotional intelligence, the importance of developing social skills.

00:45 A working definition of social skills to guide today’s discussion.

01:26 The importance of social skills to foster relationships to get work done.

02:36 Emotional intelligence should be taught alongside the more technical aspects of our technical education.

03:28 Social skills as critical components of fostering personal and professional relationships.

04:04 The benefits of developing social skills:

04:18      … building trust and deeper connection,

05:18      … developing pleasant, inviting work environments,

07:21      … building consensus and facing obstacles,

09:14      … covering for each other.

10:21 Social skills include the ability to verbally (and non-verbally) relate to one another, showing empathy and care for the other person.

11:33 The challenges of developing and exhibiting social skills as IT professionals:

11:46      … setting aside personal opinions and perceptions (biases),

12:13      … lacking in self-awareness,

12:43      … acting for a selfish purpose,

13:14      … tying one’s identity to their credentials,

14:36      … one’s upbringing,

15:55      … fear of failure, fear of criticism.

16:44 Practical ideas on how to develop social skills: practice those you are lacking, and

18:11      … seek mentorship.