Project Management Professional (PMP)® Examination Content OutlinePeopleHard
A project manager identifies that a newly hired business analyst, while technically competent, struggles to articulate complex technical details to non-technical stakeholders, causing confusion. The project manager wants to develop this skill in the business analyst. What is the MOST appropriate action for the project manager to take?
- ATake over all communication with non-technical stakeholders to ensure clarity.
- BEnroll the business analyst in a public speaking workshop.
- CProvide the business analyst with templates for all communications.
- DMentor the business analyst by coaching them on communication techniques and providing opportunities to practice with feedback.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Mentor the business analyst by coaching them on communication techniques and providing opportunities to practice with feedback.
Mentoring is an effective way to develop specific skills, especially soft skills like communication. By coaching and providing practice opportunities with feedback, the project manager directly addresses the skill gap in a supportive and practical manner, allowing the business analyst to improve their ability to articulate complex technical details.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Taking over communication prevents the business analyst from developing this crucial skill, creating a dependency.
- B. A generic public speaking workshop might help with confidence but may not specifically address translating technical details for non-technical audiences, nor provide project-specific context.
- C. Templates can help with structure but do not teach the underlying skill of adapting complex information for different audiences or responding to questions effectively.
Mentor Relevant Stakeholders
Providing guidance, support, and knowledge transfer to individuals involved in the project, including team members and other stakeholders, to enhance their skills and performance.
- Focuses on long-term development and growth.
- Involves coaching, sharing experiences, and providing feedback.
- Aims to build capabilities and empower individuals.
Memory trick: Mentoring's the key, for skills to be free.