Contengency Theory
Understanding the Model
The Fiedler Contingency Model was created in the mid-1960s by Fred Fiedler, a scientist who helped advance the study of personality and characteristics of leaders.
The model states that there is no one best style of leadership. Instead, a leader's effectiveness is based on the situation. This is the result of two factors – "leadership style" and "situational favorableness" (later called "situational control").
Leadership Style
Identifying leadership style is the first step in using the model. Fiedler believed that leadership style is fixed, and it can be measured using a scale he developed called Least-Preferred Co-Worker (LPC) Scale (see Figure 1).The scale asks you to think about the person who you've least enjoyed working with. This can be a person who you've worked with in your job, or in education or training.You then rate each factor based on this person and add up your scores. If your total score is high, you're likely to be a relationship-orientated leader. If your total score is low, you're more likely to be task-orientated leader.
Figure 1: Least-Preferred Co-Worker Scale Unfriendly | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Friendly | Unpleasant | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Pleasant | -------------------------------------------------
Rejecting | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Accepting | Tense | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Relaxed | Cold | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Warm | Boring | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Interesting | Backbiting | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Loyal | Uncooprative | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Cooperative | Hostile | 1 2
The Fiedler Contingency Model was created in the mid-1960s by Fred Fiedler, a scientist who helped advance the study of personality and characteristics of leaders.
The model states that there is no one best style of leadership. Instead, a leader's effectiveness is based on the situation. This is the result of two factors – "leadership style" and "situational favorableness" (later called "situational control").
Leadership Style
Identifying leadership style is the first step in using the model. Fiedler believed that leadership style is fixed, and it can be measured using a scale he developed called Least-Preferred Co-Worker (LPC) Scale (see Figure 1).The scale asks you to think about the person who you've least enjoyed working with. This can be a person who you've worked with in your job, or in education or training.You then rate each factor based on this person and add up your scores. If your total score is high, you're likely to be a relationship-orientated leader. If your total score is low, you're more likely to be task-orientated leader.
Figure 1: Least-Preferred Co-Worker Scale Unfriendly | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Friendly | Unpleasant | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Pleasant | -------------------------------------------------
Rejecting | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Accepting | Tense | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Relaxed | Cold | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Warm | Boring | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Interesting | Backbiting | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Loyal | Uncooprative | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | -------------------------------------------------
Cooperative | Hostile | 1 2