ABSTRACT

An example from the leader development domain includes the maxim that experience is the most potent force for development. Its utility is limited without some connection to the theoretical and empirical literature to offer an explanation for this assertion. Predicting that the development of leadership competence requires extensive practice over many years is likely to be accurate; however, by itself, it does not make the connection to the expert performance literature, which would provide some underlying explanation for this prediction. Explanations facilitate understanding and understanding is needed to enhance control, which ultimately is what is needed for effective intervention design and implementation.