Leadership Gap Calculator

The Hidden Cost ofThe Leadership Gap

Most CEOs promoted their best people into management and never looked back. But when managers aren't set up to lead, the cost shows up three ways. The number might surprise you. Find out yours below.

Tell Us About Your Organization

Total Employees Full and part-time combined

Average Annual Salary Across your team

Annual Voluntary Turnover Rate % of employees who leave each year

15%Industry avg: 15-20%

Estimated Disengaged Employees Gallup: ~70% of workers are not fully engaged

50%of your team

Number of Managers / Supervisors Anyone who supervises others

CEO Hours/Week on Escalated Issues Decisions that should stop at the manager level

8 hrsper week

Cost 01

Turnover and Replacement

Based on 0 employees leaving annually. People don't leave companies. They leave managers. Replacement runs 50-150% of annual salary once you factor in recruiting, onboarding, and lost productivity.

Cost 02

Disengagement and Lost Productivity

Gallup estimates $2,246 in lost productivity per disengaged employee per year. Your 0 disengaged employees represent output that simply never happens, invisibly, every single day.

Cost 03

CEO Time Tax

When managers aren't equipped to handle decisions independently, everything lands back on you. That's 0 hrs/week and 0 hours a year of your highest-value time spent in the weeds.

The Opportunity

What If You Closed the Leadership Gap?

Gallup research shows that when managers are developed and supported, their teams produce 18% higher engagement and 22% lower turnover, and those results hold 9 to 18 months after development ends. That's not a training bump. That's a culture shift.

Turnover savings (20% reduction)

Fewer exits. Less recruiting. More institutional knowledge stays put.

Productivity gains (18% engagement lift)

More output from the team you already have, no added headcount.

CEO time recaptured (50% reduction)

Hours returned to strategy and growth, the work only you can do.

Total estimated annual savings

The compounding return on investing in your management layer.

Program Investment

Ignite Leadership Academy
0 managers x $1,500/person

Estimated First-Year Return

Conservative savings on turnover, productivity and your time

Return on Investment

For every dollar invested in your managers

Ready to Close the Gap?

You've seen the number. Let's talk about what it would look like to actually change it. Book a call and we'll figure out the right next step for your team.

Book a Strategy Call

Calculations based on Gallup State of the Global Workplace 2025 ($2,246/disengaged employee) and industry-standard turnover replacement estimates of 75% of annual salary. CEO time value estimated at $150/hour. Intended to illustrate the business case for leadership investment; adapt to your specific context.
© 2025 Wendy M. Glass, LLC dba Ignite Leadership + HR Group Blacksburg, VA