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 leadership style is relationship oriented tend to describe their least preferred co workers in a more positive manner while those whose style is task oriented rate them more negatively applying the lpc scalethe scale is based on the notion that no single leadership style is perfect or ideal as an 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 require 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 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 considerationssituational 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 hold 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 to 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 power is weak they have less control over the team to ensure the action that is taken 