As more women make strides towards top leadership ranks, women still are under represented in top roles holding only 26% of C-suite roles in U.S. companies. For women aspiring to leadership, there is a secret sauce to showcasing their talents, demonstrating their willingness to take risk, and develop their skills. Stretch assignments are short term, internal learning opportunities that offer an employee new skills while helping a company solve a real business problem. The roles push individuals beyond their current skills and comfort zones, providing opportunities for growth and development.
Stretch assignments can mean leading a cross-functional team project, overseeing a high-stakes client account, developing a new product or service, implementing a new product, navigating a crisis situation or mentoring junior level staff among countless other tasks.
One study of executives showed that 71 percent of senior leaders identified stretch assignments as the biggest career enabler in unleashing their potential. Other research by Korn Ferry named rotational or stretch assignments as the most valuable developmental experience—ahead of things like mentoring, classroom training, 360-degree assessments, and even exposure to more senior leaders. Stretch assignments are critical for elevating women to senior leadership roles. Here are several ways they contribute to this advancement.
Skill Development: Stretch assignments push individuals beyond their current capabilities, enabling them to acquire new skills and experiences. According to a study by the Center for Creative Leadership, women who take on challenging assignments are more likely to develop leadership skills that prepare them for senior roles (CCL, 2017).
Visibility and Recognition: Taking on stretch assignments increases visibility within the organization, allowing women to showcase their abilities to senior leadership. A report by McKinsey & Company found that women who actively seek challenging roles are perceived as more ambitious and capable, which can lead to greater recognition and promotion opportunities (McKinsey, 2021).
Networking Opportunities: Stretch assignments often involve cross-departmental collaboration, providing women with opportunities to build networks with influential colleagues and leaders. A Harvard Business Review article highlights that networking is crucial for women in advancing their careers, and stretch assignments often facilitate these important connections (HBR, 2019).
Increased Confidence: Successfully completing stretch assignments can significantly boost a woman's confidence in her abilities, making her more likely to pursue senior leadership roles. Research from Catalyst indicates that confidence is a key factor in women's willingness to seek promotions (Catalyst, 2020).
Mentorship and Sponsorship: Engaging in stretch assignments often leads to mentorship and sponsorship opportunities, as leaders take notice of those who are willing to take risks and tackle challenges. According to Deloitte, women who have sponsors are significantly more likely to achieve leadership roles compared to those who do not (Deloitte, 2018).
Next time an opportunity comes your way that may be out of your comfort zone, think about whether it could be just the right move to stretch you as a leader and put you on the path for a C-suite role.
References
Center for Creative Leadership. (2017). Leadership Development for Women: A Guide for Organizations.
McKinsey & Company. (2021). Women in the Workplace 2021.
Harvard Business Review. (2019). The Benefits of Stretch Assignments for Women Leaders.
Catalyst. (2020). The Impact of Confidence on Women’s Leadership.
Deloitte. (2018). The Missing 33%: Women in Leadership.
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