Group emotional competence: A review and evaluation study

The present paper offers a literature review and evaluation of empirical research on group emotional competence (GEC). GEC is a relatively recent research avenue within the field of emotional intelligence. It is defined by Druskat & Wolff (1999, 2001, 2008), as the ability of a group to generate a shared set of behavioural norms that guide and support group members' awareness and management of emotions. Druskat & Wolff identify nine emotional competent group norms (9 ECGNs), proposed to enhance the development of group social capital and heighten the levels of team trust, collaboration and task engagement that characterize a highly performing team. The present work begins by reviewing the origins of research on emotional intelligence and covers its behavioural approach as in emotional competences. Then, it presents and discusses the recent research endeavour of group emotional intelligence, group emotional competence, and the GEC's measurement model. Our overall objective is twofold: first, to unveil some of the gaps in the literature, notably through a literature review and a critical assessment of the GEC's measurement model and its empirical findings; second, to point out potential new paths for future research.