The Least Preferred Coworker (LPC) scale is a personality test developed by Fred Fiedler in the 1950s. The LPC scale measures an individual’s leadership style, which can be either relationship-oriented or task-oriented.
Relationship-oriented leaders are more concerned with building positive relationships with their followers. They are typically seen as being supportive, friendly, and approachable.
Task-oriented leaders are more focused on getting the job done. They are typically seen as being efficient, decisive, and demanding.
The LPC scale is a 16-item Likert-scale test that asks respondents to rate their least preferred coworker on a series of bipolar adjectives, such as friendly-unfriendly, helpful-unhelpful, and cooperative-uncooperative. The total score is then calculated, with higher scores indicating a more relationship-oriented leadership style and lower scores indicating a more task-oriented leadership style.
The LPC scale has been used in a variety of research studies, and it has been found to be a reliable and valid measure of leadership style. The LPC scale has also been used in organizational settings to help leaders identify their own leadership style and to develop strategies for improving their leadership effectiveness.
Criticisms of the LPC Scale
The LPC scale has been criticized for a number of reasons. First, the scale has been criticized for being too subjective. The LPC scale relies on respondents’ self-ratings of their least preferred coworker, which can be influenced by a variety of factors, such as mood, stress, and personality.
Second, the LPC scale has been criticized for being too narrow. The LPC scale only measures one dimension of leadership style, which is relationship-oriented versus task-oriented. However, there are other important dimensions of leadership style, such as transformational versus transactional leadership.
Third, the LPC scale has been criticized for being too old. The LPC scale was developed in the 1950s, and some researchers argue that it is not relevant to today’s workplace. However, the LPC scale has been found to be a valid measure of leadership style in a variety of settings, including the military, the corporate world, and the educational arena.
Conclusion
The LPC scale is a valuable tool for understanding leadership style. However, it is important to keep in mind the limitations of the scale, such as its subjectivity, narrowness, and age. When used in conjunction with other measures of leadership style, the LPC scale can provide valuable insights into how leaders can improve their effectiveness.thumb_upthumb_downuploadGoogle itmore_vert