CPL Leadership Development & Team Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A program leader notices that two high-performing team members are in ongoing conflict that is affecting morale. What is the BEST first step?
- Separate the two members onto different projects immediately
- Facilitate a structured one-on-one mediation between the parties (Correct answer)
- Ignore it and let the team self-resolve
- Escalate immediately to HR without speaking to the individuals
Correct answer: Facilitate a structured one-on-one mediation between the parties
Structured mediation addresses the root cause directly and preserves both relationships and team morale.
Question 2: Which leadership model distinguishes between 'transactional' and 'transformational' leadership styles?
- Situational Leadership Model
- Burns and Bass Leadership Framework (Correct answer)
- Tuckman's Team Development Model
- Hersey-Blanchard Model
Correct answer: Burns and Bass Leadership Framework
James MacGregor Burns introduced the transactional vs. transformational distinction, later expanded by Bernard Bass.
Question 3: A Certified Program Leader is developing a succession plan. Which action BEST supports long-term leadership pipeline health?
- Identifying and mentoring high-potential staff at all levels (Correct answer)
- Promoting the longest-tenured employee when a vacancy arises
- Outsourcing leadership roles to reduce internal competition
- Conducting annual performance reviews only at senior levels
Correct answer: Identifying and mentoring high-potential staff at all levels
Proactively mentoring high-potential employees across levels builds a resilient, sustainable leadership pipeline.
Question 4: When using a RACI matrix for team management, what does the 'C' stand for?
- Coordinator
- Consulted (Correct answer)
- Controller
- Confirmed
Correct answer: Consulted
In RACI, 'Consulted' identifies people whose input is sought before decisions are finalized.
Question 5: A team member consistently misses deadlines despite repeated coaching. According to progressive discipline principles, what should follow documented verbal warnings?
- Immediate termination
- Written warning with documented performance plan (Correct answer)
- Transfer to a different department
- Reduction in pay
Correct answer: Written warning with documented performance plan
Progressive discipline moves from verbal warnings to written warnings with a clear improvement plan before more severe actions.
Question 6: Which coaching approach focuses primarily on asking powerful questions to help a person discover their own solutions?
- Directive coaching
- Co-active coaching (Correct answer)
- Prescriptive mentoring
- Advisory consulting
Correct answer: Co-active coaching
Co-active coaching is non-directive and relies on questioning to help individuals uncover their own insights and solutions.
Question 7: Psychological safety in a team context, as defined by Amy Edmondson, refers to:
- Physical workplace safety protocols
- Team members' belief that they can speak up without fear of punishment (Correct answer)
- Confidential HR complaint processes
- Protection from cybersecurity threats
Correct answer: Team members' belief that they can speak up without fear of punishment
Edmondson defines psychological safety as a shared belief that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking like voicing ideas or concerns.
CPL Leadership Development & Team Management 2
A program leader notices that two high-performing team members are in ongoing conflict that is affecting morale.
What is the BEST first step?