Developing Expert Leaders: The Intersection of Expertise, Cognition, and Leadership

Abstract: This article leverages the literature from expertise development (psychology) and adult cognition to establish an effective approach for organizations to develop the leaders within their ranks. Expertise development suggests that four fundamental elements should be present to optimally develop expertise of any type: access to the mental representations of expert performers; a provider of quality feedback; purposeful, deliberate practice; and a desirable level of difficulty as a part of any training and/or practice, including the best practices for cognitive development. Leader development is then considered across these four fundamental elements.