Research

Our Sources

Transparency matters. Here are the research studies and data sources that inform our programs and statistics.

We believe in evidence-based leadership development. Every statistic we cite and every framework we teach is grounded in peer-reviewed research or rigorous industry studies. Below you'll find the sources for the key statistics referenced throughout our website.

Manager Failure Rates

60%
DDI Global Leadership Forecast
Percentage of new managers who fail or underperform within the first two years. Based on longitudinal study of 15,000+ leaders across industries.
Verified
23%
Harvard Business Review / CareerBuilder Survey
Percentage of first-time managers who receive no formal leadership training. Survey of 2,000+ hiring managers and HR professionals.
Verified

Business Impact

$8.8T
Gallup State of the Global Workplace Report
Annual global cost of poor management and low employee engagement. Calculated as lost productivity equivalent to 11% of global GDP.
Verified
63%
LinkedIn Global Talent Trends / Gallup
Percentage of employees who cite their relationship with their manager as the primary reason for leaving their job.
Verified

Leadership Training ROI

$150-200K
SHRM Human Capital Benchmarking Report
Average cost to replace a failed manager, including recruitment, onboarding, productivity loss, and team disruption.
Verified
$444/year
ATD State of the Industry Report
Average annual spending on leadership development per employee in organizations with dedicated L&D programs.
Verified

Research Foundation

Psychological Safety Research
Peer-reviewed research published in Administrative Science Quarterly demonstrates that psychological safety is a key predictor of team effectiveness.
Peer-Reviewed
Growth Mindset Research
Published research on how beliefs about ability impact learning, performance, and leadership development.
Published Research
Team Effectiveness Studies
Industry research identifying psychological safety as the #1 predictor of high-performing teams.
Industry Research

Our Research Standards

  • All statistics are verified from primary sources
  • We prioritize peer-reviewed academic research
  • Industry reports are validated against multiple sources
  • Data is updated annually to ensure accuracy
  • We distinguish between correlation and causation

Questions about our sources? Contact us