The standard 7-item measure of the quality of the dyadic relationship between a leader and a follower.
| Construct measured | Leader–member exchange quality |
|---|---|
| Developed by | Graen & Uhl-Bien (1995) |
| Original publication | Graen, G. B., & Uhl-Bien, M. (1995). Relationship-based approach to leadership: Development of leader–member exchange (LMX) theory of leadership over 25 years: Applying a multi-level multi-domain perspective. The Leadership Quarterly, 6(2), 219–247. https://doi.org/10.1016/1048-9843(95)90036-5 |
| Number of items | 7 |
| Response format | 5-point scales with item-specific anchors (e.g., Rarely to Very often; Extremely ineffective to Extremely effective) |
Unidimensional — a single exchange-quality factor covering mutual understanding, support, and working relationship effectiveness. (For a multidimensional view, see the LMX-MDM.)
Alphas are commonly reported around .85–.92 for member-rated LMX.
Recommended in the authors' 25-year review as the soundest LMX measure; meta-analyses show strong criterion links to satisfaction, commitment, citizenship behavior and performance, and reasonable convergence between member and leader versions (though leader–member agreement is modest).
Supervisor–subordinate dyads in every sector; both member (LMX-7) and leader (SLMX-7) report versions are used.
United States. Translated into many languages; widely used in Asian and European leadership research.