PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
A project manager notices that a team member consistently submits deliverables late. The project manager suspects the team member is overburdened. What should the project manager do first?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often jump to a corrective or punitive action (like reassigning tasks or issuing warnings) instead of first investigating the root cause through a private, supportive conversation, which is the hallmark of effective servant leadership in the PMP framework.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Schedule a one-on-one meeting to discuss workload and any challenges.
The first step in addressing a potential performance issue is to gather information through a private, respectful conversation. The project manager should schedule a one-on-one meeting to understand the team member's workload and challenges before taking any corrective action, aligning with the PMI's emphasis on servant leadership and emotional intelligence.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reassign the tasks to another team member immediately.
Why it's wrong here
This action is premature and reactive. It addresses the symptom (tasks not being done) without investigating the root cause of the team member's consistent struggle. Such an immediate reassignment can demotivate the team member, erode trust, and prevent the project manager from understanding potential systemic issues or providing necessary support and development. It also burdens another team member without proper assessment.
- ✗
Reprimand the team member in the next team meeting as a warning.
Why it's wrong here
Publicly reprimanding a team member is highly unprofessional and counterproductive. It creates a hostile work environment, damages team morale, and can lead to resentment rather than improved performance. A PMP understands that performance issues should be addressed privately and constructively, focusing on understanding and resolution rather than public shaming or disciplinary action as a first resort.
- ✓
Schedule a one-on-one meeting to discuss workload and any challenges.
Why this is correct
This is the most appropriate initial step for a PMP. It demonstrates active listening and a commitment to understanding the team member's perspective and potential obstacles, such as workload, skill gaps, or personal issues. A private, supportive discussion allows for collaborative problem-solving, fostering trust and enabling the project manager to provide targeted support or adjustments, aligning with effective team management principles.
- ✗
Issue a formal written warning about performance.
Why it's wrong here
Issuing a formal written warning is a severe disciplinary action typically reserved for documented, persistent performance issues after initial attempts at coaching, support, and informal discussions have failed. As a first response to a team member consistently struggling, it is disproportionate and bypasses the critical step of understanding the underlying causes, potentially escalating the situation unnecessarily and damaging the professional relationship.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
Key term
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others to communicate and lead effectively.
Key term
Project Management Plan
A formal, approved document that defines how a project is executed, monitored, controlled, and closed, serving as the single source of truth for the project team.
About these practice questions
One of 800 original PMP practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PMP practice question is part of Courseiva's free PMI certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PMP exam.