Managing Emotional Intelligence of Construction Players During COVID-19 in Malaysia

Construction players are expected to be high in emotional intelligence to provide the best quality services. However, there are still gaps that exist between emotional intelligence and construction players, especially with the current issue that they have experienced during the pandemic phase. The objectives of this study are: (1) to investigate the issues that affect the project’s success during the pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), (2) to evaluate the current emotional intelligence of construction players during the pandemic and (3) to analyse the emotional intelligence factors of construction players during the pandemic. This study utilised a quantitative approach with Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue) statements in gathering the data from the relevant construction players. A total of 108 respondents participated in this study. The collected data was analysed using mean, standard deviation and percentage analysis. The findings reveal that construction delays were the main project performance problem in Malaysia during the pandemic. Anxiety was the main emotion that affected the construction players during the pandemic, hitting heavily on the male respondents. Self-control was highlighted as the main emotional intelligence factor and the most important trait of construction players. The benefit of this study is that it can be used as a way of handling projects in the context of emotional intelligence for the construction players, which is in line with Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8) which is about decent work and economic growth.