Put yourself in my shoes. Being part of a project team is a unique challenge. It is a challenge to do it twice in a matter of months. This allows you to reflect on the lessons learned. You have a whole new set. A new team. Each individual has their own history, contributions and incentives related to the project. I have been adamant for a long time that empathy is the most important quality in project managers. For a long time, empathy has been the most important quality I value in project managers. These are the lessons I have learned in recent years. Empathy is about understanding your stakeholders as people, not just their roles in the project. Patrick Hoesly reserves all rights. You can look at a staff schedule and see what they are doing, but until you talk to them and ask them honestly what they are doing, you won’t know much about their role. These people are not just cogs in the machine. They have unique skills, abilities, and motivations. It is possible that Joe has had experience with the same type of work as Matt, and Matt is struggling with it. Joe was never asked for and never shared this information. However, now that you have spoken to him on a personal level, you can understand his feelings and make positive changes. Understanding customer empathy is crucial, regardless of whether it is just one representative or a multitude of managers and end users. Without this context, requirements can be interpreted in many different ways. There are also design preferences that you will find useful. You may have many key stakeholders and customers in a complex project environment. Their expectations of you as a project manager will vary greatly. Some may expect detailed reporting, while others may not care. ?The preferred communication styles and methods vary from one person to another. The list goes on. Sponsor Empathy Your sponsor will also bring a unique set goals for you and your project. If your sponsor is very hands-off, they may allow you to breathe. On the other hand, a sponsor who wants you to know every detail and has you running around like a wild goose chaser can cause a lack of autonomy. It is important to understand where your stakeholders are coming in order to be proactive. You can build trust by: