It is our vision that the University of Iowa will have leaders at all levels who develop themselves and others to achieve peak performance. One of the most enduring principles in leadership development is the 70-20-10 model, pioneered by the Center for Creative Leadership and based on decades of study of how executives learn to lead. It rests on the belief that leadership is learned through doing. The research shows that leaders learn and grow from 3 types of experiences:
- 70% challenging experiences and assignments
- 20% developmental relationships
- 10% coursework and training
When creating a plan for yourself, or co-creating with someone who's development you are supporting, first identify 1-2 growth areas. Next, optimize your leadership development plan by balancing a blend of 70-20-10 development options:
Learning Communities (70%)
- Graduate Groups (information shared with program graduates)
- Professional Associations
- UI LEAD Cohorts
- Iowa Academic Leadership Academy
Everyday Leadership (70%)
- "Stretch" Assignments
- Training and Developing Others
- Performance Management
Cross-Functional Experiences (70%)
- Board, Committee, and Task Force Participation and Leadership
- Projects, including Continuous Improvement and New Initiatives
Leadership Coaching (20%)
- Career and Communication Coaching
- UI LEAD or Referrals to External Coaches
Mentorship and Advising (20%)
- Career Development Advising Services
- Informal Mentoring
Leadership Training (10%)
- Instructor-led/Online Courses
- Supervisor Training@Iowa, Practical Applications of Supervisory Skills (PASS) – Engaging Yourself
- DEO Workshops
- Building University of Iowa Leadership for Diversity (BUILD)
- Other On or Off-Campus Sources
Independent Study (10%)
- UI Libraries (Harvard Business Review and other journals)
- Books, Blogs, Listervs, Webinars, etc.
Continued Education (10%)
- Conferences and Events
- Tuition Assistance
- Professional Certifications
- Continuing Education Credit
Then, clarify what growth/success looks like. Clearer outcomes build motivation, accountability, and success. Whether this is your own plan or you're helping someone else, be sure to recognize effort, seek/offer affirmative and constructive feedback in the form of ideas and suggestions, and celebrate outcomes. Remember that development is change, and that change takes time. It also requires commitment, experimentation, reflection, and positive reinforcement!
Contact your UI Leadership Development team at oe-leader@uiowa.edu for consultation and resource referrals or to request a leadership development plan tool.