Leader‐Follower Congruence in Need for Achievement and Work Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Leader‐Member Exchange

Abstract

While several studies have investigated the effect of employees’ need for achievement on their work‐related outcomes, how leader‐follower congruence in need for achievement is related to critical workplace outcomes remains underexplored. Integrating person‐environment theory and similarity‐attraction theory, this study investigated the influences of leader‐follower congruence in need for achievement on followers’ job performance and job well‐being through the mediating effect of leader‐member exchange (LMX). Using cross‐level polynomial regression and response surface analysis to analyze the data from 391 leaders and 1,124 followers, we found that leader‐follower congruence in need for achievement had a positive effect on followers’ job performance and job well‐being though the mediating role of LMX. The theoretical and managerial implications are further discussed.