Answer:
The Least Preferred Co-worker (LPC) questionnaire in the Contingency Leadership Model helps assess a leader's leadership style. Option (2) is true.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Least Preferred Co-worker (LPC) questionnaire is a tool associated with the Contingency Leadership Model, particularly the Fiedler's Contingency Model.
Leadership Style Assessment:
The LPC questionnaire is designed to assess a leader's leadership style based on their least preferred co-worker.
The idea is that your response to the questionnaire reflects your leadership orientation and style.
Least Preferred Co-worker (LPC) Concept:
The LPC concept is based on the assumption that individuals have a least preferred co-worker with whom they find it most difficult to work. The characteristics you attribute to your least preferred co-worker provide insights into your leadership style.
High LPC vs. Low LPC:
Leaders are categorized as either high LPC or low LPC based on their responses. High LPC leaders tend to describe their least preferred co-workers in more positive, human-oriented terms, indicating a relationship-oriented leadership style. In contrast, low LPC leaders focus more on task-oriented traits in their descriptions.
Contingency Leadership Model:
Fiedler's Contingency Model posits that the effectiveness of a leader is contingent upon the match between their leadership style and the situational favorability of the situation.
It introduces the concept of situational control, which depends on three factors: leader-member relations, task structure, and position power.
Application to Situational Control:
By understanding a leader's LPC score and leadership style, the model aims to identify situations where that leader is most effective.
For example, a relationship-oriented leader might excel in situations with favorable leader-member relations, while a task-oriented leader might perform better in situations with high task structure.
Leadership Effectiveness:
The ultimate goal is to enhance leadership effectiveness by recognizing the fit between a leader's style and the characteristics of the situation.
The LPC questionnaire serves as a diagnostic tool in this model to guide leaders in understanding their orientation and adapting to various situations.
Thus, option (2) is true.