If you’re a leader, you likely struggle to find creative and effective ways to help your employees grow. Formal training can be expensive and time-consuming. Informal training sometimes lacks the focus and application required to make the investment pay off. And the stretch assignments and projects that typically characterize experience-based learning require significant ongoing support over time.

Want to offer an employee a targeted burst of development? Consider setting him or her up with an opportunity for visibility. Whether it’s attending a high-profile meeting, representing you with a key customer, or presenting at an upcoming conference, the intensity associated with visibility:

• Facilitates tremendous focus and attention;
• Taps emotions and emotional commitment;
• Overcomes self-imposed barriers as a result of the pressure to perform;
• Magnifies learning;
• Communicates confidence and builds trust; and
• Allows people to gain an appreciation (very quickly) of what they’re truly capable of.

My recent article in The Economist explores this topic and considers a few simple steps leaders can take to leverage visibility for learning.

Image: (c) Can Stock Photo / Enki