Unlock Your Team’s Genius: The 70/20/10 Framework (It’s Not Theory… It Works!)

“It’s about creating a culture where every challenge is a classroom, every leader is a coach, and every team member grows every single day.”

Atip Muangsuwan
CEO Coach and Coach Supervisor

Let’s cut through the noise. Want your people to grow? Your business to soar? Stop dumping resources into classroom training alone. The secret isn’t more courses – it’s smarter balance. Enter the 70/20/10 Framework – your blueprint for building unstoppable talent.

This isn’t academic theory. It’s the battle-tested recipe of top-performing companies. Let’s break it down:

1. 70%: On-the-Job Learning (Where Real Mastery Happens)

The Core: True expertise is forged in the arena – tackling real challenges, making real decisions.
Real-World Examples:

• Tech Titan Transformation: A global software company scrapped generic coding courses for junior developers. Instead, they were immediately placed on cross-functional teams solving live client problems. Result? Skills accelerated 3x faster.
• Hospitality Hero Story: A luxury hotel chain tossed lengthy service manuals. New staff learned by shadowing top performers during peak hours and handling real guest requests on Day 2. Customer satisfaction scores jumped 40%.
  Your Action:
• Assign “stretch projects” that push boundaries (without breaking them!).
• Implement strategic job rotation (especially for high-potentials).
• Build in “reflection sessions” after key tasks. Ask: “What worked? What would you do differently next time?”

2. 20%: Mentoring & Coaching (The Growth Accelerator)

The Core: Potential needs guidance. Not just any feedback – structured, consistent, and purposeful support.
Real-World Examples:

• Finance Firm’s Breakthrough: A multinational bank mandated monthly 1:1 coaching session for every employee, tightly linked to their on-the-job challenges. High-potential turnover dropped by 65% in 18 months.
• Manufacturing Turnaround: A factory battling safety issues paired veteran engineers (Mentors) with new hires. They used daily 10-minute “toolbox talks” (mentoring moments) right on the production floor. Incident rates fell by 90%.
  Your Action:
• Build a coaching culture: Train leaders to listen and ask, not just tell. “What’s your plan to tackle this?”
• Create intentional mentor matching – focus on chemistry and growth goals, not just seniority.
• Protect coaching time fiercely! No cancellations.

3. 10%: Formal Learning (The Spark, Not the Fire)

The Core: Workshops and courses ignite ideas & build foundations… but they’re the seasoning, not the main course.
Real-World Examples:

• Retail Revolution: A fashion retailer used 5-minute mobile micro-modules (10%) on new fabrics. The real impact came when staff practiced styling techniques live with customers (70%) and debriefed wins in weekly coaching huddles (20%). Sales skyrocketed.
• Leadership Leap: An engineering firm sent managers to a communication workshop (10%). The ROI exploded when they applied the techniques in project reviews (70%) and refined their approach with executive coaches (20%).
  Your Action:
• Invest in training only if it directly closes a gap observed in the 70%.
• Always blend it! Follow a workshop with a real-world assignment + coaching session.
• Leverage podcasts, articles, expert talks – keep it agile and relevant.

Why Most Companies Fail (And How You’ll Succeed)

Mistake #1: Spending 80% of your L&D budget on the 10% (fancy courses).
Mistake #2: Treating mentoring and coaching interventions as optional, not essential.
Mistake #3: Leaving employees to “figure out” the 70% alone (no structure or support).

Your Winning Formula:

1. Audit Ruthlessly: Where does your development budget actually go? (Get real!).
2. Rebalance Boldly: Shift resources towards enabling the 70% & 20%.
3. Systemize Simply: Create clear processes for projects, coaching, and targeted learning.
4. Measure What Matters: Track skill application and business impact, not just course completions.

Ready to Build a Legacy of Talent?

The 70/20/10 Framework is brilliantly simple – but it demands relentless intentionality. It’s about creating a culture where every challenge is a classroom, every leader is a coach, and every team member grows every single day.

This is how you transform potential into peak performance.
This is how you future-proof your organization.

Remember: The strongest teams aren’t born… they’re built through relentless, intentional learning.

About Atip Muangsuwan: Atip Muangsuwan is the Founder & CEO of The Best Coach International Co., Ltd. He is a CEO & UHNWI Coach, Certified Mentor & Supervisor for global executive coaches, Holistic Life Transformation Expert, Business & Life Strategist, and Corporate Facilitator/Trainer. With a proven track record of helping clients achieve their career goals and job promotions, Atip is dedicated to supporting individuals in their personal and professional growth.