This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
You are managing a project where a team member consistently misses deadlines, affecting the team's velocity. You have had informal conversations with the team member, but the behavior continues. What is the BEST next step?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Schedule a private meeting to discuss the challenges and offer support to help improve performance.
Option C is correct because, as a project manager, your first formal step should be to understand the root cause of the performance issue through a private, supportive conversation. This aligns with the PMP's focus on servant leadership and addressing people problems with empathy before escalating to punitive measures. The goal is to identify obstacles (e.g., skill gaps, resource constraints, personal challenges) and collaboratively develop a plan to improve velocity, which is more effective than immediate reprimand or task reassignment.
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.
✗
Formally reprimand the team member and put them on a performance improvement plan.
Why it's wrong here
Formal action should come after understanding the cause and offering support.
✗
Inform the team that delays are unacceptable and expect improvement.
Why it's wrong here
A general announcement does not address the specific individual's situation.
✓
Schedule a private meeting to discuss the challenges and offer support to help improve performance.
Why this is correct
Empathetic coaching and support are the recommended first steps.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Reassign the team member to less critical tasks to minimize impact.
Why it's wrong here
This avoids addressing the underlying issue and may demotivate the team member.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
PMI often tests the misconception that immediate formal reprimand or task reassignment is the most efficient way to handle performance issues, but the PMP exam rewards the servant-leader approach of first seeking to understand and support the team member through a private, collaborative discussion.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
A general announcement does not address the specific individual's situation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In agile project management, team velocity is a metric derived from the sum of story points completed per iteration, and a single member's underperformance can skew the team's capacity planning. The PMBOK Guide's 'Manage Team' process emphasizes using interpersonal skills like active listening and conflict resolution to address performance issues, as formal corrective actions (e.g., PIPs) are reserved for cases where informal coaching has failed. A real-world scenario might involve a developer struggling with a new technology stack; a private meeting could reveal the need for training or pair programming, which directly improves velocity without punitive measures.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: Schedule a private meeting to discuss the challenges and offer support to help improve performance. — Option C is correct because, as a project manager, your first formal step should be to understand the root cause of the performance issue through a private, supportive conversation. This aligns with the PMP's focus on servant leadership and addressing people problems with empathy before escalating to punitive measures. The goal is to identify obstacles (e.g., skill gaps, resource constraints, personal challenges) and collaboratively develop a plan to improve velocity, which is more effective than immediate reprimand or task reassignment.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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