Public preview
Designing an Effective Stretch Assignment
Task 20% bigger than employee's current ability. Scares 30%, fails 30%, succeeds 40%. Difficult balance.
Goal
Beat "give easy task so they don't fail" or "throw them in fire to learn" traps. Stretch is in between.
Steps
-
1
Identify R3 or R4 employee (high maturity, not yet at ceiling).
Expected Outcome
Immediate
Employee says: "Biggest assignment of my career". Excitement generates extraordinary energy.
Evidence base
School: Leadership Development
Founders: Morgan McCall · CCL · Carol Dweck (1988)
Stretch Assignments concept from CCL & McCall in "The Lessons of Experience" (1988). Backed by Carol Dweck (Stanford) "Mindset" (2006) as strongest growth driver.
Keywords
Frequently asked questions
How long does "Designing an Effective Stretch Assignment" take?
This exercise takes about 60 minutes, practiced with another person in a Action format.
When will I notice the effect of "Designing an Effective Stretch Assignment"?
Employee says: "Biggest assignment of my career". Excitement generates extraordinary energy. In the short term: Within 90 days, develops skills he didn't have. Matures years' worth in months.
Is "Designing an Effective Stretch Assignment" evidence-based?
Yes — it draws on Leadership Development (Morgan McCall, CCL, Carol Dweck (1988)). Stretch Assignments concept from CCL & McCall in "The Lessons of Experience" (1988). Backed by Carol Dweck (Stanford) "Mindset" (2006) as strongest growth driver.
Is "Designing an Effective Stretch Assignment" suitable for beginners?
Its difficulty level is: Advanced. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.
Subscribe for full access
Subscribe to Plus for full access to this practice and the whole catalogue, or try first — free, no sign-in, no commitment.
7 complete practices (one per domain) are free forever, no sign-in.