What does LPC stand for in the least preferred co-worker theory?

In the context of the least preferred co-worker theory, LPC stands for "Least Preferred Co-worker." This theory, developed by Fred Fiedler, posits that a leader's effectiveness is contingent on their leadership style and the situational context. The LPC scale is used to assess the leader's orientation by asking them to describe the coworker they would least prefer to work with.

The result reflects the leader's attitude towards people; those with a high LPC score tend to have a more relationship-oriented leadership style, while those with a low LPC score are often more task-oriented. This distinction helps in understanding how leaders operate in various situations and how their leadership style interacts with the dynamics of their teams or organizations. The LPC measurement is crucial in determining the right approach to leadership based on the specific context the leader is facing, thereby providing insights into factors like team dynamics, task relevancy, and leader-member relations.

The other options do not accurately define the LPC concept within the context of Fiedler's theory and lack relevance to the framework of leadership styles and situational factors that the theory examines.