More Than a Role: The Development and Validation of a Relationally-Grounded Manager LMX Scale

Leader-member exchange (LMX) research has long recognized that managers and subordinates evaluate their shared relationship differently, and existing manager-rated measures have largely captured role-based exchange criteria while leaving the relational quality of the exchange unmeasured. Drawing on Uhl-Bien et al.’s Manager LMX (MLMX) scale and Brower et al.’s relational leadership framework, we develop and validate a Revised Manager LMX (R-MLMX) scale across five studies. R-MLMX integrates MLMX's role-based content as a foundation while adding an interpersonal connection dimension that corresponds to the benevolence component, which prior manager-rated measures did not operationalize. Studies 1 and 2 establish the scale's three-dimensional structure (interpersonal connection, initiative/dependability, and support/collaboration) using qualitative item generation, content validation, and exploratory factor analysis. Study 3 demonstrates construct, convergent, and discriminant validity. Studies 4 and 5 establish incremental and criterion-related validity, with R-MLMX predicting follower performance, leader motivation, and subordinate-rated outcomes beyond existing manager-rated LMX measures. Dimensional analyses further reveal that initiative/dependability drives most of R-MLMX's incremental predictive utility.