The correct choice is to acknowledge the feedback and agree to transition to a more empowering leadership style. This is correct because servant leadership, a core principle in modern project management, prioritizes the growth and autonomy of the team over rigid control; by embracing this feedback, the project manager shifts from micromanagement to a coaching role that fosters trust and self-organization. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of adaptive leadership and the servant leader mindset, often appearing in questions about team motivation and conflict resolution. A common trap is choosing to justify the micromanagement or escalate the issue, which directly contradicts the PMBOK Guide’s emphasis on removing impediments and empowering the team. Memory tip: When you see “low morale” and “autonomy,” think “Serve, don’t swerve”—the servant leader adapts to the team’s needs, not their own comfort.
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 retrospective, the team identifies that the root cause of low morale is the project manager's micromanagement style. The team wants more autonomy. What should the PM do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Acknowledge the feedback and agree to transition to a more empowering leadership style
Option C is correct: Servant leadership involves empowering the team and adapting one's style. Option A is dismissive. Option B contradicts the team's feedback. Option D escalates unnecessarily.
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.
✗
Increase oversight to ensure the team stays on track
Why it's wrong here
This would worsen the problem.
✓
Acknowledge the feedback and agree to transition to a more empowering leadership style
Why this is correct
PMI encourages adapting leadership style to team needs, fostering autonomy.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Explain that micromanagement is necessary to ensure quality
Why it's wrong here
This ignores the team's concerns and does not address morale.
✗
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for guidance
Why it's wrong here
The PM should address this directly; escalation is not needed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Identify which PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Acknowledge the feedback and agree to transition to a more empowering leadership style — Option C is correct: Servant leadership involves empowering the team and adapting one's style. Option A is dismissive. Option B contradicts the team's feedback. Option D escalates unnecessarily.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.