PMP · Question #30
In a newly formed project team, one experienced team member is overwhelmed by the complexity of the tasks and is not happy with the project team. What should the project manager do?
The correct answer is D. Actively listen to the team member and identify ways to support their needs in completing the. When an experienced team member expresses being overwhelmed and unhappy due to task complexity, the project manager should actively listen to their concerns and proactively identify ways to provide support. This empathetic approach helps address the root cause and maintain team m
Question
In a newly formed project team, one experienced team member is overwhelmed by the complexity of the tasks and is not happy with the project team. What should the project manager do?
Options
- AExplain that the tasks are unavoidable and ask the team member to find a solution to overcome
- BSet up team-building activities with the project team members to reduce tension
- CAsk the team member to enter this potential schedule delay in the risk register
- DActively listen to the team member and identify ways to support their needs in completing the
How the community answered
(25 responses)- A16% (4)
- B4% (1)
- C8% (2)
- D72% (18)
Why each option
When an experienced team member expresses being overwhelmed and unhappy due to task complexity, the project manager should actively listen to their concerns and proactively identify ways to provide support. This empathetic approach helps address the root cause and maintain team morale and productivity.
Simply stating tasks are unavoidable and putting the burden entirely on the team member is dismissive, unsupportive, and fails to address the underlying issues or provide project management guidance.
While team-building activities can help with team cohesion, they do not directly address an individual's specific feelings of being overwhelmed by task complexity, which is a more immediate and direct problem.
Asking the team member to log a risk is premature and avoids addressing the immediate emotional and performance issue; the priority is to support the team member, not just document a potential problem they are experiencing.
When a team member expresses being overwhelmed and unhappy, the project manager should actively listen to understand their specific challenges and concerns. This empathetic approach allows the project manager to identify specific support mechanisms, such as reassigning tasks, providing additional resources, or offering training, to help the team member successfully complete their work and improve their morale.
Concept tested: Team member support and active listening
Source: https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/five-ways-motivate-project-team-members-6644
Topics
Community Discussion
7
Olusegun A.Jun 22, 2026D is the correct answer here. In the forming stage, an experienced team member feeling overwhelmed is a leadership signal, not a discipline problem. Actively listening and identifying support is straight out of servant leadership, which PMI loves testing in these scenarios. A is dismissive and B is a nice-to-have but does not address the actual task complexity. C is jumping the gun before you even understand the root cause.
Viktor S.Jun 22, 2026Agree on D, but the real tell in the stem is that the team member is experienced, which means the overwhelm is situational not capability-based, so your job is to clear the blocker, not coach the person.
Wesley A.Jun 4, 2026Picked B first but D is right, the real issue is task complexity not team tension.
Viktor S.Jun 13, 2026D is the right call here because the PM's job is to remove obstacles for the team, not punt the problem back at them. A is dismissive and basically tells the person to suck it up, which kills morale on a new team fast. B sounds nice but team-building exercises don't address the actual issue of task complexity, and C is just bureaucratic box-checking that does nothing to help the person succeed. The PM needs to listen first, understand what's actually overwhelming them, then figure out support - could be mentoring, task breakdown, resource reallocation, whatever fits. Got a near
Imani T.Jun 27, 2026D is right but the option cuts off mid-sentence which is annoying. B tempts you since its a new team.
Yuki V.Jun 8, 2026Going with B here. The stem literally screams newly formed team plus tension, which maps straight to the Develop Team process group where team-building activities live, and my memory hook for that was "new team equals build the team."
Olusegun A.Jun 11, 2026D is correct here, Yuki. The key word in the stem is "tension," which points to conflict management under Manage Team, not the general team-building activities of Develop Team.