The Effects of Attributions of the Motives for Other’s Effort on LMX Development

Using latent growth models (LGM), we investigated how repeated reciprocal attributions between leaders and subordinates influence the development of leader-member exchange (LMX) quality over time. A six time-point of field data (2 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 months after their first day to form the dyad) were collected from 213 newly formed supervisor-subordinate dyads to test the hypotheses. Results showed that both leaders’ and subordinates’ initial work related efforts (LWE and SWE respectively) positively, and impression management efforts (LIE and SIE respectively) negatively, relate to the initial LMX. Their initial and changes in work related efforts positively related to LMX change over time; initial SIE and changes in LIE negatively relate to LMX change over time. In addition, the interaction of initial LWE and SWE relates positively, while the interaction of initial LIE and SIE relates negatively, to initial LMX. Change in SWE enhances the positive effect of change in LWE on change in LMX. These results demonstrated that a high-quality LMX is built gradually over time through repeated reciprocal perceptions and behaviors between the dyadic members.