Shared Leadership

Correct Answer: Motivate the team to think differently and collectively find new solutions, emphasizing the importance of each member's expertise to overcome the obstacle.

The best response is to motivate the team to think differently and collectively find new solutions, emphasizing the importance of each member's expertise to overcome the obstacle. In a shared leadership project team, it is essential to encourage collaboration and leverage the diverse skills and knowledge of team members. By motivating the team to approach the problem from different perspectives and work together, the project manager can foster a sense of ownership and engagement among the team members. This approach also promotes creative problem-solving and encourages the team to find innovative solutions to the critical obstacle. Leaving the team to handle the obstacle on their own may not be effective, as it could lead to frustration and further delays if the team lacks the necessary guidance and support. Changing the project plan to bypass the obstacle does not address the root cause of the issue and may lead to future problems or suboptimal results. Consulting with an external party and making decisions without the team's involvement undermines the principles of shared leadership and can demotivate the team members by disregarding their input and expertise.

Correct Answer: Form smaller sub-teams with their shared leaders and maintain open communication among all teams.

In real world practice, as teams grow larger, it often becomes necessary to divide them into smaller, more manageable sub-teams to maintain the possibility of shared leadership. These sub-teams can then have their own shared leaders. This approach helps in maintaining the collaborative and participatory spirit of shared leadership, while still ensuring that everyone's voices can be heard. This method also facilitates open communication, which is key in a shared leadership model. The second answer is contrary to the principles of shared leadership because it suggests a more autocratic approach. The third answer is unrealistic for large teams because it would be nearly impossible to ensure everyone's opinions and visions are heard and considered. The fourth answer is not optimal because it does not guarantee that the leaders have the necessary skills or ability to lead the team, rather, it is based only on seniority.

Correct Answer: Facilitate a team discussion to address the concerns and find a collaborative solution

The most appropriate action in this scenario is to facilitate a team discussion to address the concerns and find a collaborative solution. This approach aligns with the principles of shared leadership and promotes open communication within the team. Facilitating a team discussion:
1. Addresses the root cause of the problem
2. Allows all team members to express their viewpoints
3. Encourages collaborative problem-solving
4. Promotes team cohesion and mutual understanding
5. Aligns with project management best practices for conflict resolution

The other options are less effective:

Assigning the challenging member to lead the next project phase may provide some perspective, but it doesn't directly address the current issue and could potentially exacerbate tensions within the team.

Implementing a voting system for all decisions might seem fair, but it could slow down the decision-making process and doesn't address the underlying concerns of the challenging team member.

Encouraging other team members to assertively defend their decisions may lead to increased conflict and a more adversarial team environment, rather than fostering collaboration and understanding.

By facilitating a team discussion, the project manager can address the issue constructively, maintain team cohesion, and work towards a solution that benefits the entire team and the project.