Revisiting leader–member exchange: a review through the lens of the “too much of a good thing” effect

Abstract

Objectives – This review reexamines the widely accepted belief that high-quality leader-member exchange (LMX) relationships are uniformly beneficial. Methods – Based on the “too much of a good thing” framework, this study systematically reviews new empirical evidence suggesting that excessively high LMX may yield diminishing returns and negative outcomes. Results – This review examines the unique and important contributions that high LMX relationships bring to LMX research. It highlights the emotional costs underlying non-linear patterns and presents an integrated Resource-Emotion-Motivation (REM) theoretical framework. Additionally, it discusses methodological aspects to better capture the dynamic relational process. Conclusion – Finally, based on the reviewed papers, we present the academic and practical implications for future research. This review contributes to broadening the understanding of LMX dynamics.