The secret to successful leadership development is often pondered by young would-be executives just beginning to climb the ladder of success. The climb up the corporate ladder is intimidating, lined with both ambition and peril.

What does it take to make it all the way to the C-Suite, and how do I get there?

What most of these individuals don’t realize until much later down the road is that the secret to successful leadership development is really no secret at all.

A child first learning how to swim doesn’t just jump off of a dock and hope for the best. He carefully, deliberately practices his strokes, ducking his head under water and emerging unscathed until he can do so with confidence. Only when he is able to swim in the shallow end without fear is he ready to attempt the wonders that wait for him at the end of that dock.

The secret to successful leadership development follows precisely the same model. In order to become a successful leader you must first practice your strokes and learn to swim in the shallow end. Mastering leadership development is a series of steps that involves:

1) Learning from the people who have gone before you. There are literally thousands of books, seminars, conferences and training camps dedicated to teaching leadership development, almost all centered around the knowledge and experience of executives and former executives that have climbed the corporate ladder and are now reaching down to pull up the next generation. Take advantage of these opportunities as often as possible.

2) Don’t be afraid to question your fundamental beliefs. Many leaders step into the role with the belief that because things “have always” been done a certain way, that is the way they should be done. Progressive leadership development encourages open minded thinking and a constant quest for improvement. Thinking outside the box is the key to setting your feet on the path to success.

3) Watch. Listen. Learn. Regardless of your business, unless you’re fortunate enough to own an island off the coast of Fiji you probably spend most of your day surrounded by people. This simple fact is an invaluable resource along the course of leadership development. The next time you’re in a crowd, take the opportunity to stop and listen.

You’ll notice that there are some people who seem able to slip seamlessly through life while others constantly run into walls of opposition, a distinction that marks the high and low points of leadership development. No school in the world can teach you precisely the right tone to use when calming an angry client or convincing a supplier to see things your way. The lessons you learn in personal interaction and subtle manipulation through simply keeping your eyes and ears open in your daily activities are priceless.

The secret to successful leadership development isn’t really a secret at all. An open mind, open ears and a carefully controlled tongue are all you need to take that first step toward your future at the top of the corporate ladder.