The present research examines the relationships between various operationalizations of supervisor-subordinate similarity, LMX, and several work-related outcomes. Three operationalizations of personality similarity were investigated: actual personality congruence, subjective personality congruence, and perceived personality similarity. The focal personality traits, extraversion and agreeableness, were chosen due to their interpersonal nature. Leader-member exchange (LMX) was proposed and examined as a mediating mechanism of the relationships between personality similarity and work-related outcomes. The findings indicated no consistent relationship between actual personality congruence and subordinate outcomes and partial support was found for hypotheses regarding subjective personality congruence. Perceived personality similarity was associated with subordinate job satisfaction, satisfaction with supervision, and turnover intention, and these relationships were mediated in part by LMX. Further, supervisor perceived personality similarity demonstrated a positive relationship with performance ratings, and findings indicate that these relationships were mediated in part by LMX. Implications of these findings for employees and organizations are discussed.
Aqwa, Justin, "Supervisor-Subordinate Fit: An Examination Of Extraversion, Agreeableness, And Lmx" (2017). Wayne State University Theses. 607.