Abstract
This study takes as problematic the communicatively constructed nature of Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) and gender. Actual, routine work conversations for six female leaders and their 16 male and female members were analyzed using a case comparison method. Constant comparison of conversations produced 12 discourse patterns that successfully discriminated between high, medium, and low LMX relationships. The analysis focuses upon the functioning of the patterns and the influence of gender in the construction of high, medium, and low LMXs.