PMP · Question #183
A project manager is leading a fast-moving project with strict deadlines and minimal time to deliver each milestone. The project manager discovers that one of the remote team members, who puts a lot o
The correct answer is D. Engage the remote team member, empathize with them, and let them know their contribution is. The project manager should directly address the remote team member's concerns about lack of recognition by empathizing and affirming their contributions, which is crucial for team morale and retention.
Question
A project manager is leading a fast-moving project with strict deadlines and minimal time to deliver each milestone. The project manager discovers that one of the remote team members, who puts a lot of effort into delivering the project, has confided in an on-site team member. The remote team member feels they are not being adequately rewarded and recognized for their job. What should the project manager do?
Options
- AMake arrangements with the resource's functional manager to relocate the team member to
- BSend a copy of the engagement contract to the remote team member and indicate that the team
- CInform the human resource (HR) manager of this situation and ensure this news does not spread.
- DEngage the remote team member, empathize with them, and let them know their contribution is
How the community answered
(53 responses)- A6% (3)
- B2% (1)
- C15% (8)
- D77% (41)
Why each option
The project manager should directly address the remote team member's concerns about lack of recognition by empathizing and affirming their contributions, which is crucial for team morale and retention.
Relocating the team member is a drastic and potentially unnecessary step that does not directly address the feeling of inadequate reward and recognition.
Referring to the contract is a confrontational and demotivating approach that will worsen the team member's feelings and erode trust, rather than resolving the issue.
Informing HR and focusing on preventing the news from spreading prioritizes secrecy over addressing the team member's legitimate concerns and is not a direct solution to their feelings of under-recognition.
Directly engaging with the team member, empathizing with their feelings, and explicitly acknowledging their valuable contributions addresses their core concern about lack of recognition. This approach fosters trust, improves team morale, and motivates the team member to continue performing well, which is vital for a fast-moving project with strict deadlines. Effective communication and recognition are key to managing remote teams.
Concept tested: Team motivation and recognition
Topics
Community Discussion
6
Anjali D.Dec 26, 2025D is the right call here. The group was pretty unanimous on this one: the PM needs to engage directly with the remote team member, show empathy, and recognize their contributions, which is exactly what servant leadership looks like. A few people considered C at first but agreed that escalating to HR without talking to the person first just avoids the real issue.
Grace U.Dec 28, 2025Agreed on D, and the reason C trips people up is that HR involvement sounds proactive, but servant leadership means you go to the person first and escalate only if that conversation does not move things forward.
Brenda K.Dec 13, 2025D is your quick win. C is a time sink trap, skip it and move on.
Olusegun A.Dec 24, 2025I first leaned toward C because it sounded like the safe HR play, but the stem says fast-moving with strict deadlines, so you cannot afford to let a motivated contributor disengage. D is the direct engagement move, empathy plus recognition, which keeps the team member productive while you address the real issue.
Grace U.Jan 4, 2026Going with B. The contract sets clear expectations, and recognition questions sometimes circle back to documented terms.
Anjali D.Jan 4, 2026D is the right call here, Grace. The question is asking about what motivates ongoing engagement, not what is spelled out in a contract, and recognition in option D is the factor that actually drives sustained participation over time.