PMP · Question #1101
A key challenge that a project manager is facing is the lack of discipline by various team members and their inability to harness energy to achieve the project objectives. What should the project mana
The correct answer is A. Meet with each team member separately and apply an appropriate approach with each one. To overcome team discipline and energy issues, a project manager should engage individually with each team member to identify specific challenges and apply tailored motivational or corrective approaches.
Question
Options
- AMeet with each team member separately and apply an appropriate approach with each one
- BAssign multiple managers to the various teams and delegate all of the tasks to them
- CExplain to the team that the project manager is ultimately responsible for the delivery
- DApproach the project sponsor and request help in discussing the project deliverables with team
How the community answered
(31 responses)- A74% (23)
- B3% (1)
- C16% (5)
- D6% (2)
Why each option
To overcome team discipline and energy issues, a project manager should engage individually with each team member to identify specific challenges and apply tailored motivational or corrective approaches.
Effective project management requires understanding individual team member's challenges and motivations. Meeting separately allows the project manager to identify specific issues, provide personalized coaching or support, and apply suitable strategies for improving discipline and engagement, which is crucial for fostering a productive team environment.
Assigning multiple managers and delegating all tasks can lead to confusion, conflicting directives, and a lack of clear accountability rather than improving discipline.
While project managers are responsible for delivery, simply stating this fact to the team does not address the underlying issues of discipline and energy or provide actionable solutions.
Involving the project sponsor prematurely for team discipline issues, before attempting to resolve them directly, can undermine the project manager's authority and may not be the most effective first step.
Concept tested: Team performance management and individualized coaching
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/team-management
Topics
Community Discussion
6
Orla P.Feb 18, 2026Confirmed A on exam last week. The key phrase is "lack of discipline by various team members" which points to individual coaching rather than a blanket fix, so meeting separately lets you adapt your approach to each person's situation.
Carlos M.Feb 6, 2026Went with A on my exam last week and it showed up almost verbatim. The PMBOK hammer on situational leadership and tailoring your approach to individual team members, so that is the giveaway here. D is tempting because escalating to the sponsor sounds proactive, but the PM should handle team discipline before dragging the sponsor into it. B is just lazy management and C is a cop out that does nothing to fix the actual problem.
Imani T.Feb 9, 2026Agree on A and the reasoning is solid, but worth noting that the situational leadership angle is not just PMBOK fluff, I have seen that framing show up in three different questions on my exam so make sure you actually understand the model and are not just memorizing that A is correct.
Grace U.Mar 5, 2026A is correct because the scenario describes a team at the forming or storming stage, where the PM needs to apply situational leadership and tailor their approach to each individual. Option B just fragments accountability, and option C comes across as defensive rather than constructive. I actually had a near-identical question on my exam last spring, and what helped me lock in A was remembering that the PMBOK emphasizes coaching individuals based on their specific needs and competence levels. A lot of people gravitate toward D when they feel stuck, but escalating to the sponsor before you have tried direct one-on-one conversations always
Orla P.Mar 6, 2026Good breakdown on A, and the bit about not escalating to the sponsor before trying direct coaching is the real trap people fall into, though I would add that on my exam the stem explicitly mentioned the team members having different experience levels, so look for that keyword because it basically screams situational leadership.
Imani T.Feb 28, 2026A is right. PMP loves the situational leadership angle here, tailoring your approach to each individual rather than blasting out a one-size-fits-all directive.