PMP · Question #576
A stressful situation has presented some challenges for the team. The project manager notices stress behavior in some of the team members, and it is beginning to spread across the group. The project m
The correct answer is D. Meet with the team to discuss the correct, expected behavior in stressful situations and start. The project manager should address widespread team stress by meeting to discuss expected behaviors and initiating coaching to foster a more efficient mindset.
Question
Options
- AEnsure that people care about each other and work effectively together through effective team
- BCreate an environment of respect and fairness so the team can increase their project
- CEstablish a productive environment where all team members can assist one another with the
- DMeet with the team to discuss the correct, expected behavior in stressful situations and start
How the community answered
(27 responses)- A4% (1)
- B7% (2)
- C15% (4)
- D74% (20)
Why each option
The project manager should address widespread team stress by meeting to discuss expected behaviors and initiating coaching to foster a more efficient mindset.
While team cohesion is important, 'ensuring people care about each other' is too vague and doesn't directly address the immediate need to manage stress behavior and coach for mindset change.
Creating an environment of respect and fairness is foundational but does not directly address the existing stress behavior and the need for coaching to change mindsets in response to stress.
Establishing a productive environment where team members assist one another is a good general goal but doesn't specifically tackle the current issue of spreading stress behavior or the need for mindset coaching.
When stress behavior is evident and spreading, the project manager must proactively intervene by communicating expectations and coaching the team to develop coping mechanisms and a more productive mindset for future stressful situations. This direct approach helps to realign the team's behavior and foster resilience.
Concept tested: Team coaching and behavior management
Topics
Community Discussion
8
Viktor S.Apr 29, 2026D is correct here. When stress is spreading and you need to coach a mindset shift, you actually have to meet with the team and set the expected behavior, not just quietly improve the environment and hope they figure it out.
Hiroshi T.May 2, 2026Agreed on D, and worth noting this maps directly to the PMI stance on servant leadership where coaching the team through visible behavioral expectations comes before environmental fixes.
Luis F.May 25, 2026D is the answer here because the question specifically calls out coaching the team to change their mindset, which means the PM needs to be direct about what the right behavior looks like. The other options sound nice on paper but they are more about general team building, not addressing a stress problem that is actively spreading. I had almost this exact scenario on my exam last month and the wording tripped me up at first because option B seemed so reasonable. Once I re-read it and saw the keywords about coaching and mindset, D clicked because it is the only one where the PM is actually meeting with the team to
Lena V.Jun 9, 2026D is the answer here because the question specifically calls out coaching to change mindset, which means you address the behavior directly with the team. Options A, B, and C all sound like good leadership moves but they are more about long-term culture building, not an immediate coaching intervention during an active stress spiral. The exam wants you to pick the option where the PM actually meets with the team to reset expectations and correct the behavior pattern before it gets worse. Anyone know if the real exam typically frames this as an emotional intelligence question or more of a team management / Tuckman stage question?
Zlatan X.May 14, 2026B is the right call here. The stem is asking about a mindset shift to improve efficiency, and creating an environment of respect and fairness is the governance-level intervention that enables the team to self-correct rather than the PM dictating behavior from the top down.
Lena V.May 17, 2026D is correct here. The question is about the PM shifting to a servant leadership mindset, which means focusing on removing obstacles and enabling the team rather than relying on authority-driven direction, and option D captures that shift directly.
Hiroshi T.Jun 4, 2026D is correct here. The PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition is explicit that the project manager should meet with the team to discuss ground rules and expected behavior, which is what option D describes. Ground rules are the documented behavioral expectations that keep the team functioning when stress levels rise.
Viktor S.Jun 4, 2026D is right but memorizing "meet with team to discuss ground rules" without understanding that ground rules live in the team charter and get revisited at every storming phase is how you pass the exam and still lose your project three months in.