Individual Differences and Leader-Subordinate Relationships: Examining the Relations between Individual Attachment, Emotion Regulation, Leader-Member Exchange, and Employee Behaviour

Abstract

There is scant research into the influence of leader or follower personality on the development of leader-member exchange quality (LMX; Dienesch & Liden, 1986; Gerstner & Day, 1997; Liden, Sparrowe, & Wayne, 1997, Harris, Harris, & Eplion, 2007). Furthermore, where such research has been undertaken, it has focused mostly on broad-trait based personality factors (such as the Big-Five; Phillips & Bedeian, 1994; Erdogan, Liden, & Wayne, 2006). There are strong theoretical grounds for expecting that more narrow and specific relationship-based personality assessments will provide superior prediction of LMX quality, and richer insights into the LMX development process. The current study draws on attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969/1982, 1973, 1980; Mikulincer & Shaver, 2007) to examine how individuals' dispositions relate to their LMX quality and two relationship-based aspects of work performance (organizational citizenship behaviour [OCB] and counterproductive work behaviour [CWB]). The moderating influence of emotion regulation and affectivity on these relationships was also explored. Data were collected from managers, front-line staff, and their co-workers at two Canadian hospitals. Emotion regulation (Gross, 1998a; Gross & John, 2003) was found to moderate the association between attachment and LMX. Additionally, in some instances leaders' trait affectivity interacted with emotion regulation to influence the impact of leader attachment on LMX quality. Theoretical and applied implications of these findings are discussed.