The Least-Preferred-Coworker Scale



The Least-Preferred-Coworker Scale

Directions: All of us have worked better with some people than with others. Think of the one person in your life with whom you have worked least well, a person who might have caused you difficulty in doing a job or completing a task. This person may be someone with whom you have worked recently or someone you have known in the past. This person must be the single individual with whom you have had the most difficulty getting a job done, the person with whom you would least want to work.

On the scale below, describe this person by circling the number that best represents your perception of this person. There is no right or wrong answers. Do not omit any items, and circle a number for each item only once.

Pleasant |8 |7 |6 |5 |4 |3 |2 |1 |Unpleasant | |Friendly |8 |7 |6 |5 |4 |3 |2 |1 |Unfriendly | |Rejecting |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |Accepting | |Tense |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |Relaxed | |Distant |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |Close | |Cold |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |Warm | |Supportive |8 |7 |6 |5 |4 |3 |2 |1 |Hostile | |Boring |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |Interesting | |Quarrelsome |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |Harmonious | |Gloomy |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |Cheerful | |Open |8 |7 |6 |5 |4 |3 |2 |1 |Guarded | |Backbiting |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |Loyal | |Untrustworthy |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |Trustworthy | |Considerate |8 |7 |6 |5 |4 |3 |2 |1 |Inconsiderate | |Nasty |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |Nice | |Agreeable |8 |7 |6 |5 |4 |3 |2 |1 |Disagreeable | |Insincere |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |Sincere | |Kind |8 |7 |6 |5 |4 |3 |2 |1 |Unkind | |

Scoring: Obtain your Least-Preferred-Coworker (LPC) score by adding up the numbers you circled on the scale. Your score should be between 18-144.

Relationship-Motivated Leader. If your score is 73 or above, you derive satisfaction from good relationships with group members. You are most successful when a situation has just enough uncertainty to challenge you: moderate leader-member relationships, moderate task structure, and moderate power.

Task-Motivated Leader. If your score is 64 or below, you derive satisfaction from getting things done. You are almost successful when a situation has clear guidelines or no guidelines at all: excellent or poor leader-member relationships, highly structured or un structured tasks, and high or low power.

Relationship-and Task Motivated Leader. If you score is between 65-72, you may be flexible enough to functions in both leadership styles.

Source: Fred E. Fiedler and Martin M. Chemers, Improving leadership Effectiveness: The Leader Match Concept, 2nd ed. (New York: Wiley,1984), pp.17-42

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