Seven faces of learning agility: Smarter ways to define, deploy, and develop high-potential talent

Our three decades of research have validated learning agility as a reliable indicator of potential for leadership roles. Why? Learning agile individuals excel at absorbing information from their experiences and then extrapolating from those to navigate unfamiliar situations. They are often described as flexible, resourceful, adaptable, and thoughtful—in short, an ideal fit for mission-critical roles.

Those terms, however, don’t fully capture the richness and diversity apparent when this group is examined more closely.

Recent Korn/Ferry International research reveals that most learning agile people fall into seven distinct categories. These findings add depth and clarity to our understanding of what it means to be learning agile. Organizations can leverage these insights to make optimal decisions about how to deploy and develop their high-potential talent.