Lead
Stretch Assignments
Giving someone harder work than they’ve done before, with the support to learn from it.
What is Stretch Assignments?
Giving someone harder work than they’ve done before, with the support to learn from it.
What you learn
Stretch people with harder work, plus the support to succeed.
When it helps
someone is ready for more, or wants to grow into a bigger role.
Use it at work
- Pick work that’s real and harder than their current role.
- Free up time by lightening their other work.
- Set up support: check-ins, a mentor and a safe way to ask for help.
- Make their work visible, and review what they learned.
Your output
For one person on your team, write the harder work they could own next, and the support, time and visibility it needs.
Watch for
Giving a stretch with no support, time or visibility, or support with no real challenge.
Related practices
Sources
- Herding Tigers: official sample chapters
- Developing great managers at Google
- Lessons of Experience: How Successful Executives Develop on the Job
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