Enactive Mastery Experiences for Leadership Skills

Leadership Skills – Practice is the Path to Mastery

As leaders, you use a variety of leadership skills every day. You must know how to use motivational, coaching, problem-solving, communication, listening, conflict resolution, appreciation, decision-making, and team-building skills. And, you need to understand which skill is the right one to use at the time.

Do You Play Golf?

Quick Question: How many golf clubs are you permitted to have in your golf bag if you want to play in a competitive game?

The answer: 14

“Why so many?” I hear you, non-golfers*, exclaim.

The answer: Each club is a unique ‘tool’ – different from the rest. The reason for having so many is that as your golf ball makes its way from tee to green (and in my case, via water, sand, forest, pathway, and finally lost forever), each one of those tools will be the perfect tool to help move the ball further down its intended path in a forward trajectory.

*Non-Golfers – Thus, the reason for ball catchers on early Monday mornings. At dawn, eager beavers go hunting for balls, net in hand, to sell in bulk to golfers who -if you can believe it- golf their ball right into the lake or dense woods. :-)

The fewer tools (golf clubs) you carry, the fewer options you have for helping your ball. And it’s not just a question of carrying them around in your bag. You have to practice with each of them before you hit the course because you never know which one you will need at any given time.

Leadership and the Game of Golf

Your ability and agility with your tools are necessary to help your team members advance in their careers.

And, just as with golf, if you have a favorite skill/tool (mine is a 7-iron), you cannot simply default to that one because it feels most comfortable because, at any given moment, you might find yourself in a metaphorical sand trap* instead of the metaphorical fairway*.

**** For non-golfers

*sand trap – oops, I did it again! Bed of sand with golf ball firmly wedged into the sand. Not ideal.

*fairway – an easy green pathway for the ball to slide along. The goal of golfers (besides the actual hole).

Therefore, most golf courses have a practice driving range and a practice putting area where players can practice before they play.

*This does not imply that we all use them.

Leadership Practice Range

So, where is your practice area in your leadership skill development?

We can’t simply restrict ourselves to practice to give us the sense that we will be competent—we have to get on the golf course and play.

Albert Bandura’s (Canadian Psychologist and originator of social cognitive theory) concept of enactive mastery experiences is one of the most overlooked tools for leadership development.

Hands-On – Trial by Doing Leadership Skills

It’s simple but profound: leaders need real, hands-on experiences to build their skills and confidence.

Watching others or reading about leadership is helpful, but mastery comes from action.

It’s the difference between knowing the path and walking it.

Theories are grand, but Bandura showed us that we master by doing. Why? Enactive mastery experiences—where you actively engage in a task—give leaders the proof they need to believe they can succeed.

Each time you overcome an obstacle, you build skills and resilience, which is the true mark of a leader.

Real Learning Happens in Action

Learning leadership in a classroom can only take you so far. It’s the land of real-life experiences where skills sharpen with practice. You can’t develop the muscle memory of great decision-making, problem-solving, or team leadership from the sidelines.

Mastery happens when you step into the ring, confront challenges, and emerge stronger. Brene Brown talks about this in her excellent Netflix documentary, A Call to Courage, although her metaphor is diving into the swimming pool.

That’s why Bandura’s idea of enactive mastery is essential. Each time leaders confront a challenge head-on and succeed, they grow—not just with competence and confidence, but with confidence, which breeds more action.

Leaders Need Wins—Small and Large

Here’s the thing about mastery: it doesn’t require you to solve world crises or lead a Fortune 500 company on day one. Bandura’s work teaches us that small wins are as critical as significant victories. When you lead a successful meeting, manage a difficult employee conversation, or hit a small milestone, those moments stack up.

These small successes reinforce one thing: “I can do this.“ That belief is contagious. It bleeds into more significant challenges and empowers you to face more complex leadership problems. Small wins build momentum, and momentum is the engine that drives mastery.

Confidence Built on Reality, Not Theory

Theory alone won’t get you there. Leaders can’t fake confidence for long, and they can’t rely on someone else’s experience to lead. They need their own stories of struggle and triumph.

These experiences are what Bandura’s mastery experiences offer: real evidence that you’re capable.

It’s not about mimicking someone else’s leadership style; it’s about creating your own.

How to Build Mastery Experiences

So, how can you create more mastery experiences?

Seek Challenges: Don’t avoid the tough situations. They are opportunities in disguise: the more complex the task, the greater the learning.
Reflect on Wins: After each success, take a moment to reflect. What did you learn? How can you apply it to future challenges? I always encourage journaling for this purpose.
Embrace Failure: Bandura recognized that failure isn’t the enemy. It’s part of the process. Every failure is a lesson and, ultimately, a step toward mastery.
Break It Down: Do not aim for massive goals. Instead, break them into smaller, achievable milestones. Small wins build the foundation for more significant victories.

Resilience is a Byproduct of Mastery

As a leader, you’ll face obstacles—some big, some small. Think of The Hero’s Journey here. Enactive mastery teaches that it’s not about avoiding obstacles but becoming stronger by overcoming them.

Every challenge is a test, and each test is an opportunity for growth.

Resilience builds through experience. It’s the byproduct of repeatedly stepping into difficult situations, learning, adapting, and succeeding. Leaders who seek mastery can weather any storm because they’ve already built the skills, confidence, and resilience they need.

Mastery Leads to Continuous Growth

Leadership isn’t a destination; it’s a continuous journey. That’s why Bandura’s concept of mastery is so crucial.

Leaders don’t hit a peak and stop. They keep growing.

Every success, every failure, and every experience adds another layer of competence and confidence.

Mastery isn’t about reaching perfection but continually pushing, learning, and adapting. Just as I do after I have taken nine shots to get out of a sand trap, the ball flies over the green into the lake on the other side!