Leader-member exchange and its dimensions: Effects of self-effort and other's effort on relationship quality

Two hundred thirty-two manager-subordinate dyads provided data on the effor t expended toward the development of leader-member exchange (LMX) relations hips, how such effort related to expectations about relationship quality, a nd intentions to exert future effort toward relationship development. For b oth managers and subordinates, higher quality LMX relationships were report ed and expectations were met when the other member of the dyad put forth ef fort into relationship development. One's own higher effort coupled with lo wer effort by the other was associated with a lower quality LMX relationshi p. Examination of the 4 dimensions of LMX (R. C. Liden & J. M. Maslyn, 1998 ) revealed unique effects depending on the dimension considered. In additio n, LMX and relationship tenure interacted, showing that future effort towar d relationship development was greatest when individuals had been in higher quality relationships for longer periods of time.