A second approach is experiential learning, where high potential employees identified
as having realizable leadership ability are introduced to bigger and more specific
organizational challenges. Experiential learning involves both overcoming and learning
from these challenges as a leader. These assignments may require leaders to exercise
skills such as conflict management, team building, and problem solving, which they
would not typically utilize as part of their current responsibilities. One sample of
successful senior executives reported lessons learned from experience as most crucial
to their development. This form of “on-the-job” learning can therefore be seen as
highly relevant and impactful. Such experiences develop leaders’ mental models
pertaining to various situations, so eventually the leader gains expert knowledge that
enables him or her to find solutions to new challenges with greater efficiency and
SIOP White Paper Series effectiveness. How leaders view and conceptualize
situations, tasks and challenges also shape moral behaviors, which have ethical implications for the leader and organization