Colleagues you care about are coming over for dinner. What should you make?

Some people don’t care if it’s delicious, as long as it’s interesting.

Some don’t need it to be interesting, but it needs to start on time.

Others define delicious differently than you do.

One couple doesn’t care at all about the effort you put into it.

A few don’t care if you’ve worked hard to create a spectacular meal, they’ll notice that the kitchen is a mess.

One person is really concerned that the food match their dietary needs.

And many are paying attention to the sustainability and cost of what you prepared.

Some are uncomfortable if you put in too much of effort.

The lesson is simple: empathy matters and empathy is hard. The more diverse the group’s interests, the more you’ll need to let them know in advance where you’re heading.

Get clear about what it’s for before you start doing the work.