The project manager has a motivated, high-performing team, but during meetings many members are distracted by phones, arrive late, or interrupt with jokes. What should the project manager do first?

The most effective first step is to remind the team about the meeting ground rules. This reinforces established expectations and provides a gentle, collective correction without singling out individuals initially. It allows the team to self-correct based on agreed-upon norms. Offering monetary rewards for punctuality is inappropriate and doesn't address the core issue of respecting meeting protocols. Talking privately with individuals might be necessary if the behavior persists after a general reminder, but it's not the first step when ground rules exist. Asking the team to share past frustrating experiences is a team-building exercise that might be useful later, but it doesn't directly address the immediate behavioral issues in the current meetings.