Leader-member exchange: the missing link between leadership style and organizational outcomes? the mediating effect of LMX

Abstract

The present study investigated the mediating effect of Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) on the relationship between leadership style and employee outcomes. Previous literature studied individual relationships between constructs, however no studies were found which studied LMX in regard to multiple leadership styles and employee outcomes. Specifically, this study investigated transactional and transformational leadership. Employee outcomes of interest were engagement, burnout, job satisfaction, and motivation. The aim of the study was to draw links between the constructs of interest under one study and discuss the impact of these finding on the workplace. A sample of non-academic staff from the University of Wisconsin-Stout were asked to complete a survey during a data collection period January 2019. Results showed significant positive mediation effects of LMX across multiple outcomes. Practical implications and future research were discussed.