5 Stakeholder Mistakes Project Managers Make (And How to Stop Making Them)

Most problems aren’t from bad intentions. They’re from missed habits we forget to check.

Let’s be honest. Almost every project manager I know, including myself, has made mistakes with stakeholders when starting with project management.

Not because we’re careless. But because our attention gets pulled in too many directions.

We’re focused on tasks, teams, budgets, and deadlines. Stakeholders can easily become something we “manage” with reports and emails, instead of humans we need to understand.

But here’s the thing. When stakeholders feel ignored or misunderstood, problems grow quietly. And those small issues usually show up later, when they are more expensive to fix.

The good news is that most of these mistakes are fixable. They don’t require new tools or fancy methods. They just need awareness and a bit more intention.

Let’s walk through five of the most common mistakes I’ve seen — and made — and how we can start doing better.

Mistake 1: Waiting too long to engage

This one happens all the time. You’re busy getting the project started. Stakeholders seem quiet. So you think, “I’ll talk to them once we have more…