Leader-member exchange and member performance: A new look at individual-level negative feedback-seeking behavior and team-level empowerment climate.

Results showed that subordinates' negative feedback-seeking behavior mediated the relationship between leader-member exchange (LMX) and both objective and subjective in-role performance.

Abstract

From a basis in social exchange theory, the authors investigated whether, and how, negative feedback-seeking behavior and a team empowerment climate affect the relationship between leader-member exchange (LMX) and member performance. Results showed that subordinates' negative feedback-seeking behavior mediated the relationship between LMX and both objective and subjective in-role performance. In addition, the level of a team's empowerment climate was positively related to subordinates' own sense of empowerment, which in turn negatively moderated the effects of LMX on negative feedback-seeking behavior.