What Is the Least-Preferred Coworker Scale?

Developed by American scholar Fred Fiedler, the scale identifies whether an individual's leadership style is e🔜ither relationship-oriented or ✃task-oriented.

The Least Preferred Coworker (LPC) Scale requires a person to rate the one individual they would 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:least want to work with—the least-preferred co-worker—using a range of 18 to 25 opposing (positive or negative) adjectives, with ratings from 1 to 8. The LPC score is then computed by totaling all the ratings. A high LPC score indicates that the individual is a relationship-oriented leader, while a low LPC score suggests a task-oriented leꦡader.

How the Least-Preferred Coworker Scale Works

A typical set of opposing adjectives used in the LPC scale would include pleasant or unpleasant, friendly or unfriendly, supportive or🍷 hostile, and so on. The responses are graded from 1 for the least favorable attribute (for example, unpleasant or unfriendly), to 8 for the most favorable one (pleasant or friendly).

The LPC scale assumes that people whose 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:leadership style is relationship-oriented tend to describe their least pref🐈erred co-workers in a more positive manner, while those whose style is task-oriented rate them more negatively.

Applying the LPC Scale

The scale is based on the notion that no single leadership style is perfect or ideal, as an 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:organization's needs change depending on circumstances 🌳and context. For instance, a team made up of veteran workers well-versed in their tasks may be served best by a relationship-oriented style of leadership. The team doesn't rꦆequire heavy-handed approaches like strict guidelines that a less experienced team might need.

Similarly, a veteran team may at times need task-oriented leadership. Such instances might include if a deadline is looming, or if the goals include sensitive milestones that will be difficult to achieve. If the team is made up of both 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:veteran professionals and untrained staff, the situational needs of the objective could mean leadership styles may change based on the moment or🐻 the individuals who need guidance.

Special Considerations

澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Situational favorableness also plays a role in the leadership style adopted. The leadership-member relationship is a barometer of how much influence and trust exists between the team and its leader. If this bond is weak, the leader can be said to hol🥃d a weak position in this regard. This can be swayed by the leader’s position of power in the organization.

The amount of power and authority a leader has t♔o direct the team who works for them might be described as strong, meaning they have clear control to see their mandates are followed. If that pow🥀er is weak, they have less control over the team to ensure the action that is taken.