Lesson 15-3. Explain Fiedler's contingency theory.

In highly unfavorable situations

they have little or no success influencing the people they are trying to lead.

How Least Preferred Coworkers (LPC) works

Choose the one person with whom they have worked least well. Describe them

Leader-member relations

How well followers respect, trust, and like their leaders.

Fiedler's contingency theory

In order to maximize work group performance, leaders must be matched to the right leadership situation.

Factors that determine the favorability of the situation

Leader-member relations Task structure Position power

Fiedler's contingency theory assumptions

Leaders are effective when the work groups they lead perform well. Leaders are generally unable to change their style and that they are more effective when that style fits the situation. The success of a leader depends on the degree to which the he or she is able to influence the behavior of group members.

Better leaders in moderately favorable situations were

Relationship-oriented leaders

Better leaders in highly favorable situations were

Task-orientated leaders

Better leaders in unfavorable situations were

Task-orientated leaders

Situational favorableness

The degree to which a particular situation either allows or denies a leader the chance to influence the behavior of group members.

Least Preferred Coworkers (LPC)

Used to measure leadership style

Why are task-oriented leaders better in highly favorable situations

are in effect stepping on the gas of a well-tuned car.

Why are Relationship-oriented leaders better in moderatly favorabe situations

improves the most important of the three situational factors

In highly favorable situations

leaders find that their actions influence followers

Those with moderate scores have a

more flexible leadership style

People who describe their LPC in a positive have a

relationship-oriented leadership style

Why are task-oriented leaders better in unfavorable situations

sets goals that focus attention on performance and that clarify what needs to be done, thus overcoming low task structure

People who describe their LPC in a negative way have a

task-oriented leadership style.

Position power

the degree to which leaders are able to hire, fire, reward, and punish workers

Task structure

the degree to which the requirements of a subordinate's tasks are clearly specified