Perspective-taking reflects a tendency to use one's existing role-taking capacities in
order to entertain the psychological point of view of another person; a non-affective
component of dispositional empathy. Empathy consists of empathetic concern, personal
distress, and perspective-taking. Traits related positively to perspective-taking were
patience, reasonableness, and sensitivity. Traits related negatively to perspective-taking
were aggressiveness and sarcasm.
High perspective-takers were more accurate than low perspective-takers at judging
others. Perspective-taking is likely to be important in the development of LMX
relationships.
Three role-taking aspects related to high perspective taking have been identified.
First, role takers must be accurate in their ability to perceive how other's understand
and respond to the world. Second, role takers should have large role-taking ranges. That
is, they should be able to view a situation from many perspectives. Third, role takers
should be able to perceive the other's perspective in depth and have a full understanding
of the other's perspective. When leaders and members are high on these aspects, then the
role taking process may result in higher quality LMX relationships.
Perspective-taking, also involves suppressing one's usual egocentric point of view and
viewing the world from the other's vantage point. Perspective-taking may influence a
member's task motivation. As the member's level of perspective-taking increases with
respect to his or her leader, then the member should be better able to "read"
his or her leader. The member's level of perspective-taking may affect the quality of
information shared between the leader and the member. Because perspective-taking has been
shown to be related to understanding others, those high in perspective-taking skills may
be better able to know what information needs to be discussed in order to reach a solution
on the task.