Background: Experiences That Develop Managers and What Makes Them Developmental

The Center for Creative Leadership’s continuing studies of executive growth and development have confirmed and extended the adage that experience is the best teacher.

In these studies we found that variety in leadership challenges—certain jobs, exceptional other people (overwhelmingly bosses), coping with our mistakes, enduring hardships, and coursework at pivotal moments—all contribute to the building and seasoning of managers.

Specific experiences teach specific lessons necessary for success. But it is critical, as T. S. Eliot said, not to “… have the experience, and miss the meaning.” Managers we studied who went on to become effective executives not only had ...

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