Lecture Notes: Emotional Intelligence in Project Management with AI

Introduction

• Speaker: Gayen Low, Digital Project Manager
• Guest: Ann Campia, Host of The Everyday PM Podcast, VP of Operations at TrueSense Marketing
• Topic: The role of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in Project Management (PM) within the context of AI-enabled projects.

Importance of Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

• EQ in PM: Essential for project managers to manage relationships and team dynamics.
• AI's Impact: As AI integrates into workflows, EQ becomes crucial for maintaining a human touch.

AI and Its Impact on Project Management

• Current Trends: AI is seen as a positive disruption, encouraging new conversations.
• PMI’s Role: Offering resources on integrating AI with PM practices.
• Project Management Evolution: Transition from traditional methods (waterfall, etc.) to integrating digital and AI advances.

Emotional Intelligence vs. AI

• EQ is a Superpower: It remains a critical skill for PMs despite AI advancements.
• Automation vs. Human Touch: While AI can automate tasks, human interaction and emotional understanding are irreplaceable.
• AI as a Tool: Can help with validation and reducing imposter syndrome by providing feedback on tasks and decisions.

Challenges and Opportunities

• AI's Limitations: Inability to mimic human emotions and understand nuanced human interactions.
• Maintaining Human Connection: Risk of over-relying on AI can erode human-centric skills if unchecked.
• Balance: Finding the right mix of AI utility and maintaining human touch is key.

Future Speculations

• AI and Emotion: Potential future where AI could replicate or interpret emotional cues.
• Learning from AI: Can enhance human interaction by understanding diverse working styles and preferences.

Conclusion

• Integration Strategy: Effective PMs will integrate AI without losing human elements.
• Continuous Learning: Project managers need to continually develop both their EQ and AI skills.
• Community Engagement: Digital Project Manager community as a resource for ongoing learning and discussions.

Call to Action

• Join the Community: Encouragement to join the Digital Project Manager community to connect with other professionals and stay updated on PM trends.

Final Thoughts

• Re-evaluation of Roles: AI enables a re-evaluation of PM roles, highlighting the importance of EQ.
• Empowerment through AI: Use AI to enhance efficiency, allowing more focus on human-centric tasks.