“Things can change in a split second,” says Igor Zdorovyak, PMP. That means project leaders must maintain a laser focus on critical items—but also remain adaptable. Take, for example, Zdorovyak’s role as program manager and chief of staff at healthcare giant merck in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA. The pandemic prompted him to reevaluate his leadership approach and put an added emphasis on empathy. “People’s feelings affect the project,” he says. And understanding why people act the way they do can help project leaders navigate those dynamics. So now he makes it a point to regularly reach out. “One thing I make sure to do is give team members an extra call or a ping, asking how they’re doing,” he says. And who would Zdorovyak recruit for his dream team? U.S. Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, who commanded coalition forces in the Gulf War. “Not only would he provide strict discipline, but he would also be able to connect to everyone on the team at a personal level.” Click the link in our bio to ...