What Is a Leadership Gap?

What is a leadership gap?

A leadership gap is a shortage of employees who manage, motivate and build trust with employees or make decisions at high levels of a business.

This gap may form when employees shift into supervisory roles without training or when changing circumstances leave teams with little direction.

Why does a leadership gap matter?

A leadership gap can affect team performance and daily operations. Addressing a leadership gap can help:

Set clear paths for employee growth
Keep projects on schedule
Reduce mistakes caused by unclear direction
Boost teamwork across departments
Create a safe place for sharing new ideas
Improve employee retention

Closing leadership gaps may encourage better collaboration and higher employee satisfaction.

Common leadership gap examples

Below are some leadership gap examples:

Teams don’t have a supervisor who can quickly approve budgets or changes.
Employees don’t have mentors to teach them how to manage challenging tasks or situations.
Your company doesn’t have a leadership strategy for handling external market changes or sudden growth.
Leaders struggle to provide clear direction or feedback.
There are unclear expectations for career growth and employee development.
Leaders are micromanaging instead of trusting employees to take ownership.

How to identify leadership gaps

To identify leadership gaps within your organization, consider the following steps:

Check current roles: Look at your org chart to see if any team lacks a key decision-maker. For example, if the marketing team frequently misses deadlines, a review of the org chart may reveal they lack a project manager to oversee timelines and resource allocation.
Ask employees: Workers might share whether they’re unsure who to talk to about problems. For instance, during team meetings, employees might express confusion about who to approach for specific issues, such as not knowing whether to go to HR or their direct manager for workplace concerns.
Review project outcomes: Missed deadlines or repeated errors can signal areas for improvement or a need for additional support.
Compare skills: Match needed leadership traits to your current managers’ skill sets. For example, after evaluating the company’s strategic goals, it may become clear there’s a gap in change management skills among current managers, highlighting the need for training in leading teams through transitions.
Monitor turnover: High exit rates among team leads might show a larger gap developing. If your team has had a high turnover rate among team leads over the past six months, it may suggest current management lacks the support or resources needed to retain key leaders.
Document areas where decisions are delayed: If there’s a pattern of slow approvals from management for project-related decisions, it may reveal a leadership gap.

A clear view of these gaps can help you plan management training and hire new managers.

Strategies to address a leadership gap

There are several ways to fix a leadership gap once you spot one. Many employers use a mix of internal growth and external recruitment, such as:

Leadership training: Sign employees up for advanced courses for communication, goal-setting and time management.
Mentors: Match new managers with leaders who can provide tips on motivating teams.
Succession plans: Identify people who might lead in the future and provide clear paths to progress through leadership development programs.
Experienced leaders: If your team has a leadership skills gap, consider hiring a candidate who has demonstrated success in those areas.
Rotation of staff responsibilities: Let employees try different tasks to build new leadership abilities.

By recognizing the root causes of leadership gaps and taking proactive steps to address them, your organization can improve its stability and position itself for long-term success. It can also help your company adjust to market changes and guide your team toward long-lasting success.

Frequently asked questions about leadership gaps

Do leadership gaps only happen in large organizations?

Leadership gaps in small businesses can occur for various reasons, such as lack of succession planning, limited resources for leadership development or rapid growth or change. To address leadership gaps in small businesses, it’s essential to create clear role definitions and promote internal communication to avoid confusion about leadership responsibilities.

How often should I review leadership gaps?

Consider checking for leadership gaps annually or when your company experiences a change, such as a product launch or merger. Regular reviews can help you identify potential issues and prepare your leadership team.

How can I measure leadership skills in potential managers?

One way to measure leadership skills is to watch how employees handle deadlines, guide their peers, solve issues and accept feedback. You can also give them ownership over small projects to see how they organize tasks or inspire teams. Their ability to organize deadlines and motivate employees may help you assess their leadership potential.

What Is a Leadership Gap?