The 70-20-10 Rule for Leadership Development

A research-based, time-tested guideline for developing managers says that you need to have 3 types of experience, using a 70-20-10 ratio: challenging assignments (70%), developmental relationships (20%), and coursework and training (10%).

The 70-20-10 rule emerged from 30 years of our research, which explores how executives learn, grow, and change over the course of their careers.

The underlying assumption is that leadership is learned. We believe that today, even more than before, a manager’s ability and willingness to learn from experience is the foundation for leading with impact.

The 70-20-10 rule seems simple, but you need to take it a step further.