SHRM CP 2026/2027 Summer Test Prep| Actual Questions And
Answers Latest Updated 2026/2027 (Graded A+)
•
what are the 3 leadership approaches
i. - ✔✔1. trait- has the least validity. ex: best leaders are tall/vocal
ii. 2. behavioral- task oriented or relationship oriented leader (equal)
iii. 3. situational/contigent- helps to know the variables to look at to see if it should be task or
relationship
iv. * there is no best way to lead, it depends on the situation
•
what are the 5 situational approaches to leadership
i. - ✔✔1. blake mouton- managerial grid. ex: impoverished (low concern for results low
concern for others), country club (low concern for results high concern for others),
authoritarian (high concern for results low concern for others), team (high concern for
results high concern for others)
ii. 2. hersey-blanchard- no single optimal style, leaders adjust based on "follower maturity".
ex: delegating (low task and low relationship), participating (low task and high relationship),
telling (high task and low relationship), selling (high task and high relationship)
iii. 3. fiedler- leader/member relations, task structure, position power; adjust these variables
to create favorable situation
iv. 4. path-goal theory- define goal, clarify path, remove obstacles, provide support
v. 5. emergent theory- group chooses leader, emerges from interactions
•
what are the 3 types of authentic (transformational) leaders
i. - ✔✔1. empowerment- get better results when empowered and confident. don't want to
empower prematurely
ii. 2. long term (vision and values)- helps answer the "why". ex: why do you work here?
iii. 3. emotional intelligence- helps read peoples emotions (verbal/nonverbal), manage your
own emotions/reactions
iv. * #1 asset is credibility
•
what are 3 traits of strong HR leaders
i. - ✔✔1. build relationships
ii. 2. model values- ex: putting mission statement visible on walls
iii. 3. effective agents of change- change agents, help employees understand why the change
will benefit them
•
what are 3 traits of weak HR leaders
i. - ✔✔1. focus on short term
ii. 2. make limited connections
,iii. 3. slow to innovate- you have to fail to learn, encourage employees to take risks
•
what are the 6 sources of power
i. - ✔✔1. information
ii. 2. expert
iii. 3. referent (goodwill)- have best interest in mind
iv. 4. position- ex: saying "do it because i'm your boss"
v. 5. reward- don't always have because of budget
vi. 6. coercive- don't always have power to discipline
vii. * do 1-3, not 4-6 (not always under your control)
•
what are 4 influence strategies
i. - ✔✔1. reasoning- data driven
ii. 2. appeal to mutual values- most ethical way, in someones best interest
iii. 3. call on supporters- power in numbers
iv. 4. barter (reciprocity)- you scratch my back i scratch yours (worst option)
•
what are 4 ways to gain trust
i. - ✔✔1. ability (competence)- do i trust them because i know they can do the job
ii. 2. integrity- do they treat everyone fairly/respectively
iii. 3. benevolence- do they keep the best for the group in mind
iv. 4. felt trust- how much do you think the other person trusts you. how to increase: delegate
tasks, feedback, don't micro-manage
•
what are the 5 parts of emotional intelligence
i. - ✔✔1. self-awareness
ii. 2. self-regulation
iii. 3. motivation
iv. 4. empathy- empathy vs. sympathy (be understanding)
v. 5. social skills- be able to mediate, get information instead of taking sides/looking at
emotions
•
what are the 8 parts of motivation
i. - ✔✔1. maslows hierarchy of needs- not realistic (physiological needs, safety and security,
belonging and love, esteem, self-actualization)
ii. 2. herzbergs hygiene theory- one helps being satisfied (motivation ex: autonomy,
advancement), the other avoids dissatisfaction (hygiene ex: lack of money, safe working
conditions)
,iii. 3. mcclellands 3 needs theory- achievement, affiliation, power. one of these is usually a
top power but it depends on the person
iv. 4. self determination- competence, relatedness, autonomy
v. 5. expectancy theory- valence, instrumentality, expectancy (VIE) effort > (expectancy) >
performance > (instrumentality) > outcomes (valence: how much do we value outcome).
when VIE is high, motivation is hight
vi. 6. attribution theory- locus of control, stability, controllability. when employees have some
control over the situation
vii. 7. goal setting theory- SMART goals (specific, measurable, attribute, reliable, team),
commitment, feedback. mutually set goals, not unilaterally, have regular follow-ups, have
challenging goals
viii. 8. equity theory- your performance and outcomes vs. someone else's performance and
outcome
•
what are the 5 parts of ethics
i. - ✔✔1. transparency- ex: every company has to say how top executives are paid
ii. 2. honesty- avoiding conflicts of interest, bribery, corruption
iii. 3. confidentiality
iv. 4. protecting rights of others- safety, fairness, privacy
v. 5. codes of conduct- review handbook
•
what are the 3 approaches to behaving ethically
i. - ✔✔1. utilitarian- make sure what does the greatest good for the most people
ii. 2. rights- not violating any basic human rights or well-being
iii. 3. justice- dont discriminate against any group
•
what are the 4 steps to behave ethically
i. - ✔✔1. establish the facts- what do we know
ii. 2. apply appropriate codes of conduct
iii. 3. consult- with the people involved 4. own the decision- don't blame others
•
ethical universalism vs. cultural relativism
i. - ✔✔EU- doesn't matter where you are, the right and wrong should be the same
ii. CR- whats ethical depends where you are
•
what are the 5 parts of conflict resolution
i. - ✔✔1. avoidance- lose/lose (worst)
ii. 2. accommodation- lose/win. can lead to "you owe me"
iii. 3. compromise- in the middle. easy way out
, iv. 4. competition- win/lose
v. 5. collaboration- win/win (best)
•
what are the 4 parts of communication
- ✔✔sender > (encoding) > medium channel > (decoding) > receiver > feedback loop
•
what are the 4 steps of communication
i. - ✔✔1. understand audience
ii. 2. be sure the message is clear
iii. 3. delivery message effectively- who, how, when, where
iv. 4. follow-up
•
what are 2 key aspects of a focus group
i. - ✔✔1. get everyones involvement (nominal group technique)
ii. 2. should be evaluated soon after they occur
•
what are 4 ways to improve meetings
i. - ✔✔1. have an agenda
ii. 2. distribute agenda in advance
iii. 3. be clear about outcomes for the meeting
iv. 4. establish roles- leader (facilitator), time keeper, note taker, devils advocate (avoids
group think)
•
what is ethnocentrism
- ✔✔"our way is the best"
•
what are 6 steps to having a global mindset
i. - ✔✔1. big picture
ii. 2. embrace change
iii. 3. trust the process
iv. 4. open-minded
v. 5. inclusive
vi. 6. ready to learn
•
what did edgar schein promote
i. - ✔✔multiple layers of culture
ii. 1. implicit- basic assumptions (inside)
Answers Latest Updated 2026/2027 (Graded A+)
•
what are the 3 leadership approaches
i. - ✔✔1. trait- has the least validity. ex: best leaders are tall/vocal
ii. 2. behavioral- task oriented or relationship oriented leader (equal)
iii. 3. situational/contigent- helps to know the variables to look at to see if it should be task or
relationship
iv. * there is no best way to lead, it depends on the situation
•
what are the 5 situational approaches to leadership
i. - ✔✔1. blake mouton- managerial grid. ex: impoverished (low concern for results low
concern for others), country club (low concern for results high concern for others),
authoritarian (high concern for results low concern for others), team (high concern for
results high concern for others)
ii. 2. hersey-blanchard- no single optimal style, leaders adjust based on "follower maturity".
ex: delegating (low task and low relationship), participating (low task and high relationship),
telling (high task and low relationship), selling (high task and high relationship)
iii. 3. fiedler- leader/member relations, task structure, position power; adjust these variables
to create favorable situation
iv. 4. path-goal theory- define goal, clarify path, remove obstacles, provide support
v. 5. emergent theory- group chooses leader, emerges from interactions
•
what are the 3 types of authentic (transformational) leaders
i. - ✔✔1. empowerment- get better results when empowered and confident. don't want to
empower prematurely
ii. 2. long term (vision and values)- helps answer the "why". ex: why do you work here?
iii. 3. emotional intelligence- helps read peoples emotions (verbal/nonverbal), manage your
own emotions/reactions
iv. * #1 asset is credibility
•
what are 3 traits of strong HR leaders
i. - ✔✔1. build relationships
ii. 2. model values- ex: putting mission statement visible on walls
iii. 3. effective agents of change- change agents, help employees understand why the change
will benefit them
•
what are 3 traits of weak HR leaders
i. - ✔✔1. focus on short term
ii. 2. make limited connections
,iii. 3. slow to innovate- you have to fail to learn, encourage employees to take risks
•
what are the 6 sources of power
i. - ✔✔1. information
ii. 2. expert
iii. 3. referent (goodwill)- have best interest in mind
iv. 4. position- ex: saying "do it because i'm your boss"
v. 5. reward- don't always have because of budget
vi. 6. coercive- don't always have power to discipline
vii. * do 1-3, not 4-6 (not always under your control)
•
what are 4 influence strategies
i. - ✔✔1. reasoning- data driven
ii. 2. appeal to mutual values- most ethical way, in someones best interest
iii. 3. call on supporters- power in numbers
iv. 4. barter (reciprocity)- you scratch my back i scratch yours (worst option)
•
what are 4 ways to gain trust
i. - ✔✔1. ability (competence)- do i trust them because i know they can do the job
ii. 2. integrity- do they treat everyone fairly/respectively
iii. 3. benevolence- do they keep the best for the group in mind
iv. 4. felt trust- how much do you think the other person trusts you. how to increase: delegate
tasks, feedback, don't micro-manage
•
what are the 5 parts of emotional intelligence
i. - ✔✔1. self-awareness
ii. 2. self-regulation
iii. 3. motivation
iv. 4. empathy- empathy vs. sympathy (be understanding)
v. 5. social skills- be able to mediate, get information instead of taking sides/looking at
emotions
•
what are the 8 parts of motivation
i. - ✔✔1. maslows hierarchy of needs- not realistic (physiological needs, safety and security,
belonging and love, esteem, self-actualization)
ii. 2. herzbergs hygiene theory- one helps being satisfied (motivation ex: autonomy,
advancement), the other avoids dissatisfaction (hygiene ex: lack of money, safe working
conditions)
,iii. 3. mcclellands 3 needs theory- achievement, affiliation, power. one of these is usually a
top power but it depends on the person
iv. 4. self determination- competence, relatedness, autonomy
v. 5. expectancy theory- valence, instrumentality, expectancy (VIE) effort > (expectancy) >
performance > (instrumentality) > outcomes (valence: how much do we value outcome).
when VIE is high, motivation is hight
vi. 6. attribution theory- locus of control, stability, controllability. when employees have some
control over the situation
vii. 7. goal setting theory- SMART goals (specific, measurable, attribute, reliable, team),
commitment, feedback. mutually set goals, not unilaterally, have regular follow-ups, have
challenging goals
viii. 8. equity theory- your performance and outcomes vs. someone else's performance and
outcome
•
what are the 5 parts of ethics
i. - ✔✔1. transparency- ex: every company has to say how top executives are paid
ii. 2. honesty- avoiding conflicts of interest, bribery, corruption
iii. 3. confidentiality
iv. 4. protecting rights of others- safety, fairness, privacy
v. 5. codes of conduct- review handbook
•
what are the 3 approaches to behaving ethically
i. - ✔✔1. utilitarian- make sure what does the greatest good for the most people
ii. 2. rights- not violating any basic human rights or well-being
iii. 3. justice- dont discriminate against any group
•
what are the 4 steps to behave ethically
i. - ✔✔1. establish the facts- what do we know
ii. 2. apply appropriate codes of conduct
iii. 3. consult- with the people involved 4. own the decision- don't blame others
•
ethical universalism vs. cultural relativism
i. - ✔✔EU- doesn't matter where you are, the right and wrong should be the same
ii. CR- whats ethical depends where you are
•
what are the 5 parts of conflict resolution
i. - ✔✔1. avoidance- lose/lose (worst)
ii. 2. accommodation- lose/win. can lead to "you owe me"
iii. 3. compromise- in the middle. easy way out
, iv. 4. competition- win/lose
v. 5. collaboration- win/win (best)
•
what are the 4 parts of communication
- ✔✔sender > (encoding) > medium channel > (decoding) > receiver > feedback loop
•
what are the 4 steps of communication
i. - ✔✔1. understand audience
ii. 2. be sure the message is clear
iii. 3. delivery message effectively- who, how, when, where
iv. 4. follow-up
•
what are 2 key aspects of a focus group
i. - ✔✔1. get everyones involvement (nominal group technique)
ii. 2. should be evaluated soon after they occur
•
what are 4 ways to improve meetings
i. - ✔✔1. have an agenda
ii. 2. distribute agenda in advance
iii. 3. be clear about outcomes for the meeting
iv. 4. establish roles- leader (facilitator), time keeper, note taker, devils advocate (avoids
group think)
•
what is ethnocentrism
- ✔✔"our way is the best"
•
what are 6 steps to having a global mindset
i. - ✔✔1. big picture
ii. 2. embrace change
iii. 3. trust the process
iv. 4. open-minded
v. 5. inclusive
vi. 6. ready to learn
•
what did edgar schein promote
i. - ✔✔multiple layers of culture
ii. 1. implicit- basic assumptions (inside)
