Evidence brief · Peer-reviewed · Field study of managers' developmental experiences
Developing leaders via experience: The role of developmental challenge, learning orientation, and feedback availability
DeRue, D. S., & Wellman, N. (2009). Developing leaders via experience: The role of developmental challenge, learning orientation, and feedback availability. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(4), 859-875. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015317 (opens in a new tab)
Publisher: American Psychological Association
- What the study reported
- Developmental challenge in job experiences was related to leadership skill development, with diminishing returns at high levels of challenge. Access to feedback helped offset those diminishing returns.
- How it informs leadership practice
- Informs the Readiness pathway: pair stretch assignments with deliberate support and feedback rather than assigning challenge alone.
- Limitations
- Based on a specific sample of managers and their self-selected experiences. It does not evaluate succession programs or this library.
- Conceptual mapping
- Accelerate Leadership Readiness
- Mobilize Human Capability
Editorial interpretation. The study did not examine the H.U.M.A.N. framework.
Used in: Leadership Readiness & Succession
Paraphrased summary. Read the original article via the DOI link for full methods and results.