Relations between leader‐subordinate personality similarity and job attitudes

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the associations between organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs), leader‐member exchange (LMX), perceived organizational justice, and similarity between subordinate and supervisor on the Big Five personality traits.Design/methodology/approachA research questionnaire was administered to 120 blue‐collar workers in a large industrial company in Israel. A structural equation model was conducted to test the proposed relations and mediating hypotheses.FindingsOCBs were found to be related to LMX and organizational justice. In addition, LMX was found to mediate the relationship between organizational justice and OCBs. Contrary to expectations, a negative correlation was found between personality similarity and LMX.Practical implicationsOrganizations may facilitate OCBs by improving LMX relationships and organizational justice. Supervisors should be encouraged to form high‐quality LMX relationships with dissimilar subordinates.Originality/valueThe study emphasizes the importance of LMX and organizational justice as motivational bases for OCBs. Among blue‐collar workers, LMX seems to be based on social exchange or reciprocity rather than attraction or personality similarity.