Studies have shown that project managers with higher ____,have stronger leadership tendencies and are more successful in influencing the project outcomes.

A) delegation skills
B) emotional literacy
C) sociolinguistic skills
D) emotional intelligence

The question is asking for a trait that is correlated to both leadership tendencies and successful project outcomes. Emotional intelligence is a measure of a person's ability to perceive, understand, and manage their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. This skill is essential for effective communication, relationship building, and conflict resolution, which are all critical for project management success. Delegation skills and sociolinguistic skills may also be important for project management, but they are not specifically linked to leadership tendencies or project outcomes in the same way that emotional intelligence is. Therefore, the best choice is D.