Managing Emotions During Team Problem Solving: Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Resolution

Abstract

Although the potential links between emotional intelligence and performance continue to garner interest, few empirical studies have examined this phenomenon. The influence of emotional intelligence on team performance is of particular interest to researchers and practitioners as teamwork becomes more prevalent in organizations. In this article, we examine the utility of emotional intelligence for predicting individual performance, team performance, and conflict resolution styles. Three-hundred-and-fifty respondents working in 108 teams were administered a measure of team members' emotional intelligence. Participants then completed a problem-solving task, individually and as a team member, and afterwards reflected on the conflict resolution tactics used to achieve the team outcome. In line with expectations, emotional intelligence indicators were positively linked with team performance and were differentially linked to conflict resolution methods. Limitations and implications for future research are also discussed.