PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently 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.
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
✓
Speak privately with the team member after the meeting to discuss the impact of their behavior
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.
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
Ending the meeting and scheduling a general team-building session is an overreaction that fails to directly address the specific disruptive behavior of an individual team member. This approach misidentifies the root cause, unnecessarily disrupts project progress, and does not provide the targeted, immediate feedback required to correct the individual's conduct, which is crucial for maintaining meeting decorum and team professionalism.
- ✓
Speak privately with the team member after the meeting to discuss the impact of their behavior
Why this is correct
Speaking privately with the team member after the meeting is the most professional and effective approach, aligning with PMI's emphasis on respectful communication and conflict resolution. This method allows for direct, constructive feedback regarding the specific behavior and its impact, without causing public embarrassment or escalating the situation. It fosters a positive team environment by addressing issues promptly and discreetly, promoting individual accountability.
- ✗
Ignore the behavior as it is not affecting the project outcomes directly
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring disruptive behavior, even if its immediate impact on project outcomes is not directly apparent, is detrimental to team dynamics and long-term collaboration. Unaddressed issues can fester, erode trust among team members, set a negative precedent for acceptable conduct, and eventually escalate into more significant conflicts that can severely impede project success and team morale. A project manager must maintain a professional environment.
- ✗
Ask the team member to leave the meeting until they can behave professionally
Why it's wrong here
Publicly reprimanding a team member by asking them to leave the meeting is an aggressive and confrontational approach that can lead to public humiliation and severe damage to the professional relationship. This action is highly likely to escalate the conflict, create resentment, and negatively impact overall team morale and trust, rather than fostering a constructive resolution or encouraging improved behavior in a supportive manner.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
Key term
Project Team Management
Project Team Management is the process of leading, coordinating, and supporting a group of people to complete project tasks and achieve project objectives.
Key term
Training and Development
Training and Development is the process of enhancing team members' skills, knowledge, and competencies to improve project performance and achieve career growth.
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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.