PMP · Question #491
One team member is not as active as the rest of the team during a brainstorming session. The project manager has a separate conversation with the team member and learns that the team member is slightl
The correct answer is B. Emotional intelligence. The project manager demonstrated emotional intelligence by empathizing with the hearing-impaired team member's situation and adapting the meeting environment to ensure inclusive participation.
Question
One team member is not as active as the rest of the team during a brainstorming session. The project manager has a separate conversation with the team member and learns that the team member is slightly hearing impaired. The team member appreciates the project manager's concern. The project manager then decides to change the time and room for the meeting to ensure everyone can participate. What interpersonal skill did the project manager use?
Options
- ANetworking
- BEmotional intelligence
- CConflict management
- DInfluencing
How the community answered
(21 responses)- A14% (3)
- B76% (16)
- C5% (1)
- D5% (1)
Why each option
The project manager demonstrated emotional intelligence by empathizing with the hearing-impaired team member's situation and adapting the meeting environment to ensure inclusive participation.
Networking involves building relationships for future benefit or resource sharing, which is not the primary skill demonstrated in addressing an immediate team member's accessibility need.
Emotional intelligence encompasses self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and relationship management. The project manager used emotional intelligence by demonstrating empathy in understanding the team member's difficulty, engaging in a private conversation to understand their needs, and then proactively adapting the meeting environment to ensure inclusive participation, thereby fostering a supportive team atmosphere.
Conflict management involves resolving disagreements or disputes among individuals or groups, which was not the situation described, as there was no conflict, but rather an accessibility challenge.
While the project manager's actions influenced a positive outcome, "influencing" is a broad interpersonal skill, and in this context, it was an application or result of the deeper, more specific skill of emotional intelligence, which allowed for the understanding and appropriate response.
Concept tested: Emotional intelligence; team empathy
Source: https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/emotional-intelligence-crucial-project-managers-8228
Topics
Community Discussion
8
Fatima Z.Nov 3, 2025B is correct. The PM picked up on a non-verbal cue, checked in privately, and adapted the setup, which is pure emotional intelligence. Think EAR: Empathy, Adapt the room, Respond with care.
Yuki V.Nov 5, 2025EAR is solid for this one, and I would also flag that pulling the person aside privately is the part a lot of people miss on the exam because they just think emotional intelligence equals being nice in the moment.
Carlos M.Oct 24, 2025B is correct. The PM picked up on the team member not participating, asked why in a private setting, and adapted the meeting setup accordingly, which is emotional intelligence in action. Does anyone know if the exam always ties accommodation decisions back to EI rather than leadership or team management?
Fatima Z.Oct 25, 2025Co-sign B, and yes the exam loves wrapping everything in EI, but watch for stems that mention tailoring communication styles to specific individuals, that is still EI but it sneaks in under the leadership banner so I use the trick L-E-A-D equals Listen, Empathize, Adapt, Deliver to keep them straight.
Toby R.Nov 17, 2025Confirmed B on exam last month. D is tempting because changing the room sounds like you are influencing the situation, but the real trigger was the PM picking up on the team member's body language and then having the private conversation, which is straight emotional intelligence.
Wesley A.Nov 8, 2025Failed this one first time, picked D. Is recognizing individual needs the core of emotional intelligence?
Fatima Z.Nov 11, 2025Spot on that recognizing individual needs is an EI cornerstone, but remember the whole package with ROSE: Recognize needs, Own your emotions, Sense what others feel, and Empathize, so D was close but EI goes beyond just spotting needs to actually managing them.
Yuki V.Oct 19, 2025Confirmed B on my exam last month. Emotional intelligence is the giveaway here because the PM picked up on the nonverbal cue that something was off, had a private empathetic conversation, and adapted the environment to include everyone.