Learning Agility: Unlock the Lessons of Experience

The Essential (But Incomplete) Role of Experience

Score one for conventional wisdom: CCL research shows that experience is indeed the best teacher. Specifically, we derive significantly more value in what we learn from our own experiences than from what we learn through others (bosses, colleagues, coaches, etc.) or formal learning (courses, training, etc.). Academic researchers and organizational practitioners now recognize that a deliberate focus on learning from experience is one of the most valuable approaches to developing the leadership skills that drive long-term career success.

Three aspects of our experience make this learning even more valuable. The first is quantity. The sheer number of distinct learning experiences we’ve accumulated ...