OK, since actual experience (the 70%) is the best teacher, the question becomes, what kind of experiences should be given to high potential employees?

FORBES: Orchestrating Failure

In many cases this type of broadened exposure could be facilitated by the company using networking events that bring a variety of staff members together, especially high-potential employees who can gain insight from high-level executives.

CNN: Ditching work friends could be the best career move

Haller-Jorden said that MBAs represent "high-potential employees" who tend to be entrepreneurial and show a high level of initiative.

CNN: Study: Women overlooked for promotion in recession

Besides teaching them what not to do, failure also matures high-potential employees into leaders.

FORBES: Orchestrating Failure

Yet too often companies simply round up the usual suspects--high-potential employees and senior executives in roles that are critical for business success.

FORBES

The bottom line: Your employees already have the potential to be high performers.

FORBES: Magazine Article