STRETCHING: Good for Mind and Body

Training & Development, Oct 2007 by Salopek, Jennifer J

Stretching in action

One organization that has wholeheartedly embraced stretch assignments is the Professional Development Institute at Duke University and Health System in Durham, North Carolina. Stretch assignments and team projects are integral parts of the curriculum of the institute's supervisor program, which is specifically designed to prepare Duke employees for managerial roles. The yearlong program, which recently graduated its first class, accepts only long-term, high-performing staff members who are recommended by their supervisors, explains Linda Hendricks, Duke's assistant vice president of talent management.

The stretch assignment occurs early in the program, and is jointly created by the participant and her supervisor. The assignment takes place within the parameters of the participant's current job, and is intended to be a learning opportunity in a function or area beyond the participant's current role or competency. A written document describes the scope, deliverables, learning objectives, and evaluation measures of the stretch assignment and is signed by the participant, supervisor, and coach. At the conclusion of the assignment, the participant must deliver a presentation to classmates and senior university administrators.

The team project commences in the middle of the program, and is designed to take participants out of their comfort zones. Assigned to teams of three or four, they work for six months with a senior-level sponsor and a coach on a project with a required outcome.

Corey Lyon, project manager with Duke's Office of Information Technology, was among the first group of Duke employees to complete the program. For his team project, Lyon was assigned to work with five other employees from different areas to create a recruitment ambassadors program. These ambassadors are articulate, dedicated Duke employees who travel and interview with recruiters to provide insight into working at Duke and answer candidates' questions. Lyon and his team created a handbook for the ambassadors.

"The stretch assignment is an opportunity to directly apply one or two competencies in the area where the participant works now. The team project is intended to use everything they have learned up to that point, in an experience that involves working with and for new people, and applying project management skills," Hendricks explains.

She became a fan of stretch assignments while working at Vanderbilt University and notes that all of the team projects, which she must approve in advance, fill an identified business need.

Employees at all levels should reflect on the past 12 months, urges van Dam. Ask yourself, What new skills have I developed? How will I update my résumé? If you have difficulty answering those questions, it may be time to get up and stretch.

Jennifer J. Salopek is a contributing editor to T D; jjsalopek@cox.net.