The correct first step is to speak privately with the team member after the meeting to discuss the impact of their behavior. This approach aligns with the PMP’s emphasis on proactive conflict resolution and emotional intelligence, as addressing the issue one-on-one prevents public embarrassment and allows you to focus on the specific behavior’s effect on team morale and collaboration. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Manage Team process, where the project manager must use interpersonal skills to address disruptive conduct before it escalates. A common trap is choosing to address the issue publicly during the meeting, which can damage trust and violate the principle of respect; instead, remember that private, timely feedback is the foundation of effective team management. Memory tip: “Private before public, impact before blame.”
PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
During a project status meeting, you notice that one team member consistently interrupts others and dismisses their ideas. This behavior is affecting team morale and collaboration. What should you do first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Speak privately with the team member after the meeting to discuss the impact of their behavior
Option B is correct because addressing interpersonal issues privately and promptly aligns with the PMP's focus on proactive conflict resolution and team management. By speaking privately with the team member, you can discuss the specific behavior's impact on morale and collaboration without public embarrassment, which is key to maintaining a respectful team environment and preventing escalation.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
End the meeting and schedule a team-building session
Why it's wrong here
While team building is positive, it does not directly address the specific behavior.
✓
Speak privately with the team member after the meeting to discuss the impact of their behavior
Why this is correct
Private feedback respects the individual and addresses the issue directly, which is the PMI-recommended approach.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Ignore the behavior as it is not affecting the project outcomes directly
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring the behavior allows it to continue, which can harm team dynamics and collaboration.
✗
Ask the team member to leave the meeting until they can behave professionally
Why it's wrong here
Publicly confronting the team member can escalate conflict and damage the relationship.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose Option A (team-building) as a quick fix, mistaking a general morale-boosting activity for the specific, targeted intervention required by the PMP's emphasis on addressing the root cause of conflict first.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In project management, the 'confronting' or 'problem-solving' conflict resolution mode is most effective for interpersonal issues, but it must be applied in a private setting to avoid defensive reactions. The PMBOK Guide emphasizes that the project manager should first address disruptive behavior through direct, respectful communication, as public confrontation can trigger the 'fight-or-flight' response, reducing the chance of a constructive outcome. Real-world scenarios show that a private conversation allows the team member to save face and more readily accept feedback, which is critical for long-term team cohesion.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the PMP exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PMP question in full detail.
People — Leading Projects — This question tests People — Leading Projects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Speak privately with the team member after the meeting to discuss the impact of their behavior — Option B is correct because addressing interpersonal issues privately and promptly aligns with the PMP's focus on proactive conflict resolution and team management. By speaking privately with the team member, you can discuss the specific behavior's impact on morale and collaboration without public embarrassment, which is key to maintaining a respectful team environment and preventing escalation.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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