Growing the Perfect Leader (2024)

Contingency Theory

Contingency theory focuses not only on the leader but also on the situation in which the leader is interacting. In this chapter, Northouse discusses the essential elements of contingency theory, its strengths, and also its weaknesses. It also describes the LPC scale and how it relates to leadership styles. Contingency theory is based on research, studies, and is reliable and relatable.

Two Essential Elements of Contingency Theory

Northouse states that styles and situations are the two elements contingency theory is concerned with. There are two leadership styles of contingency theory. Task-motivated, a style related to reaching goals, and relationship motivated, a style related to building close relationships. Task-motivated people have low LPC’s. Likewise, those who are relationship-motivated have high LPC. The second element, situation, has three factors. The first of which is leader-member relations. This revolves around the group’s opinion and feelings for their leader. The second type is task structure and has to do with how well a task is planned. The last characteristic is position power. It is the amount of power a leader has over their followers.

High LPC or Low LPC?

Northouse describes the LPC scale as tool used to measure a person’s leadership style. It’s a survey based on a person’s description of their least preferred coworker. People who score high on it have high LPC’s. They are relationship motivated and often see the best qualities in those around them. Low LPC people are task-motivated. They primarily want to accomplish their goals and will be effective very good and very bad situations. I have a low LPC because I am much more task and goal oriented. Although it is important to have good relations with those I work with, it is more important to me to get the job done.

Strengths of Contingency Theory

Contingency theory has many strengths according to Northouse. One is that it is an effective way of explaining how good leadership can be achieved. It is very tested and supported by research. Another strength is the way it widens understanding of leadership and links leaders to situations. The third strength is that the theory is helpful for predicting which type leadership would be good in which situation and what the success rate would be for someone in a given situation. The next strength is that it doesn’t require a leader to be effective in every situation. It argues that a leader won’t be optimal in every situation. The last strength is that the theory provides information on leaders styles that
would be useful when developing that leader and their profile.

Weaknesses of Contingency Theory

Although there are many strengths of contingency theory, there are also so weakness and criticisms. The first weakness is that contingency theory doesn’t fully explain why some people are more effective leaders in some situations but not in others. Critics often use this to challenge the theory. Another weakness is the LPC scale. Often people don’t understand why their description of another person tells them their leadership style. It doesn’t make much sense on the surface but when analyzed deeper, the answer becomes clear. Those who view their least preferred coworker very negatively are task motivated because they see that person as the weakest link in the path toward their goal. The people who see their least preferred coworker as positive do so because they want to form a good relationship with them. The last weakness is that the theory doesn’t explain what to do with a leader is put in a situation that they do fit with. It doesn’t address how to teach leaders how to adapt.

Conclusion

Contingency theory focuses on leaders and how they react to different situations. There are two essential elements to this theory, style and situation. The LPC scale is used to show which leaders have which style and which style would fit better in which situation. There are many strengths and weaknesses of the theory, but regardless, it is an effective way to identify what qualities a leader must possess in order to be successful in certain situation.

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