When J.R. Ryan looks for candidates for management-development training, he seeks out people “who have excellent cultural fit, emotional intelligence and a high ceiling.”

In other words, with candidates who possess these qualities, “There is room for them to learn and grow; they have significant potential,” says Ryan, president of Meese Inc., a division of Tingue, Brown & Co division based in Madison, IN.

To turn these high-potential candidates into seasoned pros requires a mix of textbook and classroom learning—coupled with hands-on experience, says management expert H. Kent Baker.

“Friday’s worker become Monday’s manager,” Baker says. He finds that these ...