The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Facility Management Leadership: A Comparative Analysis Across Organizational Levels

9 pages•Published: July 23, 2025

Juliana Somuah, Rebecca Kassa, Jake Smithwick, Brian Lines and Kenneth Sullivan

Abstract

Emotional Intelligence (EI) plays a pivotal role in leadership effectiveness within Facility management (FM), shaping decision-making, team dynamics, and overall organizational performance. This study investigates the influence of EI competencies such as self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Using EI assessments, data were collected from FM professionals across senior executives (n=69) and entry-level managers (n=34). The study evaluates how these EI competencies vary with the two job levels. The findings reveal that senior executives demonstrated significantly higher levels of EI, particularly in areas like social awareness, relationship management and overall EQ, compared to their entry-level counterparts. Despite the critical importance of EI for leadership in FM, the study identifies a gap in formal training and development programs designed to cultivate EI. Current practices do not sufficiently focus on the deliberate enhancement of these competencies.

Keyphrases: emotional intelligence, facility management, leadership, organizational performance, professional development

In: Wesley Collins, Anthony J. Perrenoud and John Posillico (editors). Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 61st Annual International Conference, vol 6, pages 725-733.

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/KKWN7
	https://doi.org/10.29007/97nk

BibTeX entry

@inproceedings{ASC2025:Role_Emotional_Intelligence_Facility,
  author    = {Juliana Somuah and Rebecca Kassa and Jake Smithwick and Brian Lines and Kenneth Sullivan},
  title     = {The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Facility Management Leadership: A Comparative Analysis Across Organizational Levels},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 61st Annual International Conference},
  editor    = {Wesley Collins and Anthony J. Perrenoud and John Posillico},
  series    = {EPiC Series in Built Environment},
  volume    = {6},
  publisher = {EasyChair},
  bibsource = {EasyChair, https://easychair.org},
  issn      = {2632-881X},
  url       = {/publications/paper/KKWN7},
  doi       = {10.29007/97nk},
  pages     = {725-733},
  year      = {2025}}

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