CAM Leadership & Team Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In Tuckman's model of team development, during which stage do conflicts and power struggles most commonly occur?
- Forming
- Storming (Correct answer)
- Norming
- Performing
Correct answer: Storming
The Storming stage is characterized by interpersonal conflicts as team members establish roles and challenge each other's ideas.
Question 2: An account manager wants to delegate a complex client reporting task to a junior team member. Which action is MOST important before delegating?
- Ensure the junior member has the skills or will receive training to complete the task (Correct answer)
- Simply assign the task and check back only at the deadline
- Do part of the task yourself to ensure quality
- Ask the junior member if they want the assignment
Correct answer: Ensure the junior member has the skills or will receive training to complete the task
Effective delegation requires matching the task to the person's capability or ensuring development support is in place before assignment.
Question 3: Which of the following BEST describes transformational leadership as it applies to account management?
- Rewarding team members strictly based on performance metrics
- Inspiring team members to exceed their own interests for a broader vision (Correct answer)
- Maintaining strict adherence to established processes and rules
- Micromanaging every client interaction to ensure consistency
Correct answer: Inspiring team members to exceed their own interests for a broader vision
Transformational leaders motivate teams by connecting daily work to a compelling vision, which drives discretionary effort and innovation.
Question 4: An account manager is leading a remote team across multiple time zones. What is the MOST effective strategy for maintaining team cohesion?
- Schedule all meetings at the account manager's local time for simplicity
- Rotate meeting times and use asynchronous communication tools to accommodate all zones (Correct answer)
- Require all team members to be available 24/7 for immediate responses
- Limit communication to email only to avoid scheduling conflicts
Correct answer: Rotate meeting times and use asynchronous communication tools to accommodate all zones
Rotating meeting times and combining synchronous and asynchronous tools respects all team members' schedules and promotes inclusive participation.
Question 5: What is the PRIMARY purpose of a one-on-one meeting between an account manager and a direct report?
- To review the company's quarterly financial results
- To provide coaching, feedback, and address individual development needs (Correct answer)
- To discuss only urgent client issues as they arise
- To replace team stand-up meetings
Correct answer: To provide coaching, feedback, and address individual development needs
One-on-one meetings are primarily a coaching and development tool, offering a private forum for feedback, goal-setting, and support.
Question 6: A team member approaches an account manager with a problem and immediately asks for the solution. To promote team development, the manager should FIRST:
- Provide the answer immediately to save time
- Ask the team member what solutions they have already considered (Correct answer)
- Escalate the problem to a senior leader
- Ignore the request to encourage self-reliance
Correct answer: Ask the team member what solutions they have already considered
Asking team members to present their own ideas first builds problem-solving capability and reinforces ownership while maintaining a coaching posture.
Question 7: When building an account management team, which combination of attributes should a leader MOST prioritize?
- Identical personalities and identical skill sets for consistency
- Diverse skills and perspectives paired with shared values and team goals (Correct answer)
- Maximum individual autonomy with minimal shared processes
- Seniority and tenure over ability and adaptability
Correct answer: Diverse skills and perspectives paired with shared values and team goals
High-performing teams combine complementary skill diversity with a unified sense of purpose and shared values, balancing autonomy with alignment.
CAM Leadership & Team Management 3
In Tuckman's model of team development, during which stage do conflicts and power struggles most commonly occur?