| Summary: | The purpose of this research study was to explore how leaders and followers experience and perceive the link between the leader-follower relationship and productivity. Previous research in this area approached this issue from a quantitative perspective. Using LMX as a theoretical framework, this study used a qualitative IPA approach with semi-structured, in-depth interviews to explore the perceptions of three leaders and three followers from a mid-sized church in North
Carolina. This approach allowed for a more in-depth exploration of the perceptions and experiences of the leader- and follower-participants. Six superordinate themes emerged from the research. Four themes were shared between the leader and follower groups: trust, respect, communication, and experience. Understanding people emerged as a fifth, independent theme for the leader group; and intrinsic motivation emerged as a fifth, independent theme for the follower group. Findings revealed
both similarities and differences in how each group views the leader-follower relationship, and how that relationship informs productivity. While leaders indicated that all five emergent themes inform the leader-follower relationship and therefore productivity, the follower group indicated that trust and respect informs the leader-follower relationship, but does not inform productivity; communication and experience directly informs both the leader-follower relationship and productivity;
and intrinsic motivation informs productivity, but does not influence and is not influenced by the leader-follower relationship. The results of this study revealed that leaders who desire to cultivate positive leader-follower relationships that support productivity should recognize that there are both similarities and distinct differences between how leaders and followers perceive and experience the influence the leader-follower relationship has on productivity.
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