Age as determinant of high emotional intelligence needed for construction project team motivation at a construction site in Cape Town

Abstract

Emotional intelligence (EI) often defined as an individual’s ability to effectively handle other people’s emotions even during difficult times. The attribute is associated with the ability of an individual to understand well the experienced of the victim and then manage the circumstances satisfactorily. The individual managing the situation need to realize their own emotions for them to understand better the emotions of the other individuals. The ability to “leader” to understand their emotions provides guidance on how best to use to manage the thinking, feelings and the behavior of the affected individual and assist in adjusting the feelings to the environment. This attribute has been associated with effective leaders expected to have high levels of informed perceptions about situations and the management thereof. Researchers have not always agreed on the source of this attribute with others believing that one is born with it and others suggesting that it can be learnt. This is primarily the arguments between “the Petrides’ trait model” and “Salvovey’s ability model” respectively. The research resulted in Goleman’s mixed model which combines aspects of the trait and ability models, thereby suggesting that EI can also be learnt through experience and constant exposure. Older people, who have enough exposure and therefore understand situations better, may have more empathy based on their years of exposure to different situations. This study focused on younger people involved in construction projects where hard labour is reason for demotivation, the research tested the understanding that older folk are more empathetic and likely to motivate junior project practitioners. A descriptive research design used together with mixed research methodology was employed to enable a full description and understanding of the impact of age on empathy and by derivation, motivation. A structured questionnaire was administered by trained research assistants on a sample population selected by use of systematic random sampling method, every second practitioner from level of junior technician and below was sampled for the survey. In all 100 respondents participated, the questionnaires were cleaned, edited, coded and captured on to an excel spreadsheet, from where illustrations comparing the variables were interpreted. The indication from the findings is that the elderly supervisors, unit leaders, etc were more understanding, treated subordinates cautiously, were encouraging and motivating in their leadership.