ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the most researched area of relational leadership from an entity perspective, namely that which has focused on leader–member exchange (LMX). M. Uhl-Bien differentiated between the entity and socio-constructionist perspectives of relational leadership but integrated both perspectives under the broad umbrella of relational leadership theory. LMX theory captures the quality of the interpersonal relationship that exists between a leader and a follower, based upon the notion that successive social exchanges in the leadership relationship determine a range of work-related outcomes. The theory is one of the most significant for our understanding of leadership in that it places followers, and importantly their perceptions of their leader, central to understanding the consequences or effects of leadership. Leaving aside theoretical explanations as to how leader–member exchange operates, there has been considerable empirical work examining the antecedents and effects of LMX, since the theory was initially posited in the literature.
