{"id":50077,"date":"2022-05-18T08:39:32","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T12:39:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ccl.org\/?post_type=articles&p=50077"},"modified":"2025-05-08T07:02:52","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T11:02:52","slug":"use-experience-fuel-leadership-development","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/www.ccl.org\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/use-experience-fuel-leadership-development\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use Experience to Fuel Leadership Development"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Benefits of Leadership Experience & How It Drives Development<\/h2>\n

As we\u2019ve stated many times before, leaders are made, not born<\/a>. And they\u2019re made over many years, shaped by professional and personal experiences.<\/p>\n

Most learning and development actually comes from on-the-job experience<\/a>, not formal coursework.<\/p>\n

But the process of leadership development isn\u2019t passive. It\u2019s more than just a matter of letting life experience wash over you. The best leaders learn from their leadership experiences in a thoughtful, strategic manner. They\u2019re constantly asking themselves,\u00a0\u201cWhat can I learn from this failure?\u201d<\/em> or \u201cHow can I use this success to grow and develop?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

As noted in our book, Lead 4 Success: Learn the Essentials of True Leadership<\/a><\/em>, understanding the benefits of leadership experience and how it shapes leaders is the first step to making the most of it in your career.<\/p>\n


\n\"Lead<\/a>Set your development as a leader on the right track by learning and practicing the 4 fundamental skills of true leadership<\/a>: self-awareness, learning agility, communication, and influence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

3 Truths About Leadership Experience<\/h3>\n

1. Experience matters, because leaders are made, not born.<\/h4>\n

The most valuable experiences push you out of your comfort zone, stretch your skills, and challenge your abilities. Though nobody wants to spend their entire career in a constant state of discomfort, the most worthwhile leadership development usually comes with a dose of discomfort. Making worthwhile changes is rarely easy, and requires intentional effort.<\/p>\n

2. Leadership experience is variable, and not all experiences are the same.<\/h4>\n

Different people, of course, have different leadership experiences. And different experiences teach different things. The quality, quantity, and diversity of your experiences are important. Also, remember that the benefits of leadership experience goes beyond what\u2019s on your r\u00e9sum\u00e9. Family experiences, volunteer roles, hardships and your personal life<\/a> and other non-work experiences can also strengthen your leadership skills.<\/p>\n

3. Experience is the past, present, and future at once.<\/h4>\n

A leadership experience is not a one-time phenomenon. You can relive past experiences, reflect on them, and discover new insights. Your past experiences can help you navigate your present experiences, and your current experiences may prompt you to re-examine past experiences for new lessons. Future experiences don\u2019t merely happen to you. You can shape<\/em> them, consciously seeking out opportunities to grow as a leader<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Unlocking the Benefits of Leadership Experience<\/h2>\n

It Starts With Skill-Building In These 4 Areas<\/h3>\n

So how do you translate these 3 truths into actionable day-to-day activities?<\/p>\n

Focus on developing\u00a0the core leadership skills needed in every role and career<\/a>, which are developed primarily through experience and, in turn, help you gain the most benefits from your leadership experiences. These 4 skills are:<\/p>\n