PMP Notes+

PMP Exam Tactics – What to Do and What to Avoid

3 min read

What Not to Do

  • Don’t Hire
  • Don’t Fire
  • Don’t Ask for Money
  • Don’t Ask for Help
    • Ask from within your team!
  • Don’t Do Nothing
  • Don’t Make Someone Else Do Your Job

What to Do

  • Deliver the project and deliver value.
  • Be direct and collaborative.
  • Be honest, take responsibility, and don’t pass the buck.
  • Problem solve, problem solve, problem solve.
    • Define the problem
    • Identify the root cause
    • Brainstorm solutions
    • Choose the best one (prioritize)
    • Implement it
    • Verify that it worked

Condensed podcast

Why These Tactics Are Useful for the PMP Exam

The PMP exam is full of scenario-based questions that test a candidate’s ability to think like a professional project manager. These lists align well with PMI’s expectations in the following ways:

1. “Don’t Do” List – Avoiding Bad Project Management Practices

  • PMP questions often include distractor choices that reflect poor leadership, lack of ownership, or unethical behavior.
  • The “Don’t Do” list helps candidates eliminate these wrong answers quickly.

Examples:

  • “Don’t Hire / Fire” → A PMP should follow HR processes, not unilaterally hire/fire.
  • “Don’t Ask for Money” → PMP candidates should focus on budget management, not last-minute funding requests.
  • “Don’t Ask for Help” → A PMP should collaborate and communicate, not avoid teamwork.
  • “Don’t Do Nothing” → PMP expects proactive risk and issue management.
  • “Don’t Make Someone Else Do Your Job” → PMP-certified PMs are accountable and can’t pass off responsibilities.

2. “Do This” List – Following PMP Best Practices

  • These behaviors reflect leadership, collaboration, problem-solving, and value-driven decision-making, all of which PMI assesses.

Examples:

  • “Deliver value” → The PMP exam emphasizes the business value of project outcomes.
  • “Be direct and collaborative” → Effective communication is a top PMP skill.
  • “Be honest and take responsibility” → PMP-certified PMs follow ethics and integrity, avoiding blame-shifting.
  • “Problem solve, problem solve, problem solve” → This mirrors PMI’s structured problem-solving approach: define, analyze, solve, implement, verify.
  • “Verify that it worked” → The PMP exam tests continuous improvement and lessons learned, ensuring solutions achieve results.

How This Helps on the PMP Exam

  • Eliminating wrong answers – PMP questions often include unethical, ineffective, or overly bureaucratic choices. Knowing what not to do helps narrow down options.
  • Choosing PMI-preferred responses – PMP expects proactive, ethical, and process-driven decisions, which align with the “Do This” list.
  • Improving situational awareness – The exam tests not just knowledge but how well you apply it to real-world scenarios.

This structured approach makes it easier to spot the best answer quickly, saving time on the exam.

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