Chapter 3: Beyond LMX Quality: Towards a Broader Typology of Leader–Follower Relationships

In this chapter, we provide a discussion of the typical way LMX is conceptualized and measured along a bipolar continuum from low- to high-quality. We contrast this approach with research outside of the workplace which views relationships in a more complex way. Specifically, such research demonstrates that alongside positive and negative relationships, a substantial portion of individuals’ social networks consists of ambivalent relationships that are simultaneously “good” and “bad” and indifferent relationships that are neither good nor bad. Our chapter aims to integrate this extended typology of relationships with LMX. We review research which suggests that indifferent and ambivalent relationship are valuable to consider. Based on this work, we posit the modelling of positivity and negativity as separate dimensions, in order to consider this wider typology of relationships, that includes indifference and ambivalence alongside positive and negative LMX relationships. We provide a roadmap for future research to achieve this by considering the way these can be measured.