How to use the 70-20-10 model to design development actions in an Individual Development Plan (IDP)

The 70-20-10 model is a proven approach to planning effective development.
It assumes that we learn the most through experience (70%), then from others (20%), and only a small part of our knowledge comes from formal education (10%).

These numbers don’t reflect exact time proportions - they highlight the effectiveness of different learning methods. The biggest impact on growth comes from everyday work experiences.

Why use this model?

Research and practice show that if the goal is lasting behavioral change and real business impact, formal training alone is just the beginning.
Knowledge gained during a course or workshop fades quickly if not applied in practice. Putting it into action and receiving feedback from others helps consolidate learning - turning new skills into natural behavior.

The 70-20-10 model reminds us that when planning development, we should not only focus on courses, but also include tasks, projects, and relationships that lead to lasting results.

Below you’ll find practical tips and examples of how to use the model when creating your Individual Development Plan (IDP).

🔴 Experience (70%)

Learn through action and everyday experiences.
These are activities you carry out as part of your work, learning naturally while doing. They engage you, build practical skills, and increase independence.

Example development activities:

• Any role: Facilitate an important project meeting and summarize key takeaways for future actions.
• HR / People: Independently run a full recruitment process (briefing, interviews, feedback to candidates).
• Marketing: Plan and execute a campaign using a new channel (e.g., TikTok Ads) and analyze results.
• Sales / Customer Success: Lead a sales process applying newly learned techniques.
• IT / Product / Tech: Facilitate a sprint or project retrospective and implement selected process improvements.
• Finance: Design and implement improvements in reporting (e.g., automation in Excel or Power BI).
• Operations: Take part in a process optimization project (e.g., reducing delivery time, improving production flow).
• Cross-functional / Innovation: Experiment with a new tool or technology and create a prototype (e.g., using AI to automate reporting).

🟠 Relationships (20%)

Learn from and with others.
These are actions based on interaction - exchanging experiences, reflections, and feedback. They enhance self-awareness and strengthen relationships.

Example development activities:

• Any role: Regular mentoring sessions with a more experienced colleague in the organization.
• HR / People: Shadow an experienced leader or HRBP during a development conversation or exit interview.
• Marketing: Observe a teammate planning and leading a creative workshop for a campaign.
• Sales / Customer Success: Hold a feedback session after a joint meeting with a key client - discuss conversation style and negotiation techniques.
• IT / Product / Tech: Engage in pair programming or collaborative problem-solving with a senior engineer.
• Finance: Co-create a financial analysis with an expert and discuss applied methodologies.
• Operations: Learn from a shift manager by solving an operational issue together on the shop floor or in logistics.
• Cross-functional: Join a community of practice or knowledge-sharing group and actively participate in discussions.

🟡 Knowledge (10%)

Develop through formal learning and training.
These are structured educational activities - courses, webinars, or conferences. They may have a smaller direct impact on behavior change but often serve as a key starting point.

Example development activities:

• Any role: Attend an industry webinar or listen to thematic podcasts and share notes with your team.
• HR / People: Take a training course on labor law or modern recruitment methods (e.g. competency-based or AI-assisted recruitment).
• Marketing: Complete an online analytics course (e.g., Google Analytics 4, SEO) or attend an industry conference.
• Sales / Customer Success: Take a negotiation training or a course on strategic account management.
• IT / Product / Tech: Attend a webinar on AI/ML trends or complete a certification course (e.g. AWS, Scrum Master, UX Design) or a tech conference.
• Finance: Participate in an online workshop on ESG/ new regulations or an e-learning course in data analysis.
• Operations: Take a Lean Management or Six Sigma course, or join a virtual Q&A session with safety experts.
• Cross-functional: Read a business book, e-book, or expert article and share key insights with your team.

A well-structured Individual Development Plan should include a balance of actions. Not every plan needs to cover all three areas, but the greatest emphasis should be placed on experience and relationships, not only formal learning.