Analyzing the Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Leadership in Construction 4.0

Like many other parts of the world, the construction industry in South Africa is experiencing a significant shift due to the introduction of Construction 4.0 technologies. This paper explored the relationship between leadership and emotional intelligence within the context of Construction 4.0 in South Africa as there is a dearth of knowledge about how emotional intelligence influences leadership. The study uncovered patterns, identified gaps, and highlighted trends by analyzing and synthesizing published works. Specifically, it assessed the impact of emotional intelligence on leadership, particularly to Construction 4.0. To achieve this, a bibliometric analysis was utilized to review existing literature on this topic whereby keywords such as “emotional”, “intelligence”, “leadership”, and “Construction 4.0” were searched in the Scopus database. Additionally, the VOSviewer software is perceived as the best tool for analyzing the data obtained from the Scopus database. A total of 553 documents were retrieved, of which only 129 were utilized in this study after the filtration process as they were deemed feasible. Findings revealed a positive correlation between emotional intelligence and leadership, shedding light on how emotional intelligence can enhance leadership effectiveness amidst technological evolution. Also, it contributed to comprehensive strategies for the progress of the industry and a complete understanding of the human factor in Construction 4.0. The study’s originality lies in its focus on the relationship between leadership and emotional intelligence in South Africa’s Construction 4.0 context. Consequently, it provides insights into how emotional intelligence might improve leadership effectiveness in the era of technical advancements, which has important implications for academia and industry.