I know you also are a champion of this sort of no-nonsense approach to management development, and I agree that Gannon’s story offers a particularly vivid illustration of how we should be alert to it - I especially love the fact that the fellow simply kept showing up, basically forcing the credentials scales to fall away from Gannon’s eyes (had they been there to begin with) - and with intelligent on-the-job training that desire turned into capability such that Gannon has greater freedom of maneuver now than ever.

Thanks for stopping by - and also for your current series on the key issues surrounding talent in the workplace - as always, it is unearthing unexpected and brilliant facets to the question, and terrific commentary by your visitors!

“The apprentice” grabbed me like a magnet.

Like Wally, I’m pretty intense about leadership development being based upon action, not classroom learning (although understanding certain principles gives one food for thought–while trying things out).

Gannon’s story offers a real-life example of the apprentice approach to mastery. There are still countries where serving an apprenticeship leads to become a master craftsperson–and acknowledged as such in very tangible ways.

Thanks for carving out a segment of your series to show that there is a reason why some approaches have stood the test of time: they simply work.