Fiedler contingency model

The Fiedler contingency model is a leadership theory. It states that leaders generally fall into two categories—relationship-oriented and task-oriented—and that a leader of one type could not easily function as a leader of the other type. The model supports delegating leaders to various tasks depending on their predominant leadership type.

The two types are distinguished using a least-preferred co-worker scale. Leaders who describe their least preferred co-worker as unpleasant, tense, frustrating, gloomy, or boring are generally said to be task oriented, while those who describe their least preferred co-worker as pleasant, relaxed, helpful, cheerful, or interesting are generally said to be relationship oriented