The Human Side of Project Resilience: A Traditional Literature Review of Emotional Intelligence, Adaptability, and Team Learning

Abstract: This paper explores the human dimensions of project resilience by examining the interrelated roles of emotional intelligence (EI), adaptability, and team learning as core enablers of resilient project performance. While traditional approaches to resilience emphasize structural systems and risk management frameworks, this review highlights the growing recognition that human capabilities are equally critical in determining how projects anticipate, absorb, and recover from disruptions. Through a synthesis of recent literature, the study demonstrates that EI fosters emotional regulation and psychological safety, adaptability translates these emotional competencies into flexible and creative responses to change, and team learning institutionalizes these adaptive behaviors through shared reflection and knowledge exchange. Together, these constructs form a synergistic framework that transforms project resilience from a reactive process into a proactive, strategic capability. The study concludes that emotionally intelligent, adaptable, and learning-oriented teams are fundamental to sustaining success in complex and turbulent project environments. Keywords: Project Resilience, Emotional Intelligence, Adaptability, Team Learning, Psychological Safety, Human-centered Project Management, Organizational Learning. Title: The Human Side of Project Resilience: A Traditional Literature Review of Emotional Intelligence, Adaptability, and Team Learning Author: Catherine Muthoni Nyambu, Prof. Karim Hassanali Omido International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online) Vol. 13, Issue 4, October 2025 - December 2025 Page No: 308-321 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 06-November-2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17541363 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/the-human-side-of-project-resilience-a-traditional-literature-review-of-emotional-intelligence-adaptability-and-team-learning