10 Tools for Planning and Tracking Employee Development

70/20/10 Framework: Transforming Growth Plans

One of the most effective tools I use for employee development planning is the 70/20/10 Framework—not just as a model, but as a mindset shift that transforms static growth plans into meaningful, job-embedded leadership development.

Too often, growth conversations focus only on formal training or annual evaluations. But when the 70/20/10 model is applied intentionally—with reflection, accountability, and strategic alignment—it sparks exponential, sustainable growth across the talent pipeline.

Here’s how we use it with leaders and teams:

70% Learning by Doing

We help individuals and leadership teams identify high-impact, on-the-job growth opportunities—stretch projects, cross-functional collaboration, process redesign, and real-time decision-making. When leaders are coached to connect daily work with intentional development, they begin to lead with purpose—not just productivity.

20% Learning Through Others

This is where culture begins to evolve. We support organizations in creating systems for mentoring, coaching, peer feedback, and skip-level conversations. But the real differentiator is embedding intentional reflection—structured debriefs, journaling prompts, coaching cycles. That’s what turns feedback into follow-through and relationships into results.

10% Formal Learning

We don’t dismiss formal training—we elevate it. When development sessions, conferences, or certifications are linked directly to real-world goals and ongoing coaching, they become actionable, sticky, and immediately valuable.

We’ve supported leadership development initiatives across sectors by customizing this model to fit the organization’s goals, culture, and capacity. Whether in K-12, corporate, or nonprofit settings, the outcomes are consistent: stronger leaders, clearer alignment, and more energized teams.

For organizations looking to move beyond compliance-based development and toward a culture of intentional growth, this framework has proven to be a powerful place to start. It’s not just a plan on paper. It’s a pathway to purpose—and performance.