Fred Fiedler

Definition

Fred Fiedler was a pioneering organizational psychologist who developed the Contingency Theory of Leadership, which posits that effective leadership is contingent upon the interaction between the leader's style and the situation. His work was foundational in the field of situational approaches to leadership.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Fiedler's Contingency Theory suggests that there is no single best leadership style, and that the effectiveness of a leader's style depends on the situation.
2. The Least Preferred Coworker (LPC) Scale is used to measure a leader's motivational orientation, which can be either task-oriented or relationship-oriented.
3. Situational favorability refers to the degree to which a leader can exert influence, based on the leader's relationship with followers, the task structure, and the leader's position power.
4. Fiedler's model proposes that task-oriented leaders perform best in situations of high or low situational favorability, while relationship-oriented leaders perform best in situations of moderate favorability.
5. The Contingency Theory emphasizes the importance of matching a leader's style to the demands of the situation, rather than assuming a single leadership approach is universally effective.

Review Questions

• Explain the key premise of Fiedler's Contingency Theory of Leadership.
  • The key premise of Fiedler's Contingency Theory of Leadership is that the effectiveness of a leader's style is contingent on the situation. Fiedler argued that there is no single best leadership style, and that the most effective approach depends on the interaction between the leader's motivational orientation (task-oriented or relationship-oriented) and the favorability of the situation, which is determined by the leader's relationship with followers, the task structure, and the leader's position power.
• Describe how the Least Preferred Coworker (LPC) Scale is used to assess a leader's motivational orientation.
  • The Least Preferred Coworker (LPC) Scale is a measure developed by Fiedler to assess a leader's motivational orientation. The scale asks leaders to describe their least preferred coworker, and their responses are used to determine whether they are more task-oriented or relationship-oriented. A high LPC score indicates a relationship-oriented leader, while a low LPC score indicates a task-oriented leader. This information is then used to determine the leader's effectiveness in different situational contexts, as per Fiedler's Contingency Theory.
• Analyze how the concept of situational favorability in Fiedler's Contingency Theory relates to the effectiveness of different leadership styles.
  • The concept of situational favorability is central to Fiedler's Contingency Theory. It refers to the degree to which a leader can exert influence, based on the leader's relationship with followers, the task structure, and the leader's position power. Fiedler's model suggests that task-oriented leaders perform best in situations of high or low situational favorability, as they are able to focus on the task at hand or assert their authority. Conversely, relationship-oriented leaders perform best in situations of moderate favorability, where they can leverage their interpersonal skills to motivate and guide their followers. The effectiveness of a leader's style is therefore contingent on the demands of the specific situation, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Related terms

Contingency Theory of Leadership: A leadership theory developed by Fred Fiedler that suggests the most effective leadership style is contingent on the situation and the leader's ability to control and influence the situation.

Least Preferred Coworker (LPC) Scale: A measure developed by Fiedler to assess a leader's motivational orientation, which can be task-oriented or relationship-oriented.

Situational Favorability: The degree to which a situation enables a leader to exert influence, as determined by the leader's relationship with followers, the task structure, and the leader's position power.