When we embark on any project, it is critical for the project team to develop shard knowledge about the project's goals, users, and processes. When a team has this alignment, it empowers them to make better decisions, faster.
In this phase of the user experience process, you and the team should conduct activities that help you align on the project goals, develop personas for your targets users, and identify opportunities for improvement in the processes and design of the solution.
This is the time to come with an open mind and appreciate that you "are not the user", and will only be able to serve them better by acting like a sponge for knowledge.
