Chapter 7: Leader–Member Relations in an Aging Workforce

While researchers and practitioners increasingly recognize the importance of creating and maintaining high quality leader–member exchange (LMX) in supporting organizational performance and workers’ well-being, a new challenge emerges with the aging of the global workforce. This chapter aims to examine challenges brought by the aging workforce while focusing on the role of leader, both young and old, in developing high quality interaction with older subordinates. First, we will examine current literature in leadership behaviors and outcomes as a function of age; second, we will present research that has examined the LMX relationship as a function of age, with a focus on research that examines LMX when the supervisor is younger than the subordinate; third, we will provide an overview of research on age-related stereotypes, workplace ageism, and the job performance, turnover, and job attitudes of older workers to inform leaders about the challenges and opportunities associated with an aging workforce; and finally, we will present research-based ideas for building high-quality, leader–member relationships with older subordinates.